ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2008) — Scientists at Aston University in Birmingham, UK are carrying out a unique study using the eyes to detect early signs of health problems which could lead to diabetes, and they’re looking for volunteers to help.

A team of scientists from Aston’s Ophthalmic Research Group (ORG) are looking for healthy 20-65 year olds to take part in a free health check - results of which could help in detecting risk for diabetes or early diabetic changes. The scientists are particularly interested in the differences in these factors between the South Asian community and Caucasian population in Birmingham.

People who sign up for their free health check will undergo a simple ultrasound test (to assess cardiovascular health), an eye test (to measure blood flow and blood vessel diameter) and a blood test (to check for glucose and cholesterol levels). Researchers (led by Ophthalmology lecturer Dr Doina Gherghel) would like to test South Asian (Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) or Caucasian people, with or without a family history of diabetes in one or both parents.

Sunni Patel, Optometry PHD student and member of the ORG, Aston University, said:

“In the UK alone, two million people have diabetes and up to 750,000 are believed to be carriers of the condition without even realising. The figures amongst the South Asian community are particularly significant – with one in three people of Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lankan or Bangladeshi descent being affected.

“These are worrying statistics but, by diagnosing the disease in patients early on, a number of measures can be put in place to minimise any related health issues. Findings from this research could really help with early diagnosis. If opticians were equipped with the knowledge and technology to spot health concerns which could indicate the first signs of diabetes, the UK’s early diagnosis rate could be improved significantly."

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Aston University, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Related Stories

Computers Can Effectively Detect Diabetes-Related Eye Problems, Analysis Finds (May 28, 2010) — People with diabetes have an increased risk of blindness, yet nearly half of the approximately 23 million Americans with diabetes do not get an annual eye exam to detect possible problems. But it ...  > read more

Eye Divergence In Children Triples Risk Of Mental Illness (Nov. 28, 2008) — Children whose eyes are misaligned and point outward are at significantly increased risk of developing mental illness by early adulthood, according to findings published in ...  > read more

Is Beauty Found in the Whites of the Eyes? 'Red Eyes' Associated With the Sad and Unattractive (Apr. 8, 2011) — Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, but a new study reveals that the reverse is also true; unattractiveness is in the eye of the beheld. Researchers found that people with bloodshot eyes ...  > read more

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Retinopathy Linked In Diabetes (May 25, 2009) — The eyes may be the window into the soul, but they may also contain important medical information. According to new research, patients with diabetes who have retinopathy should also be screened for ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily