Early detection remains the best tool against diabetes' chronic complications, especially microvascular ones: retinopathy, nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy. Various health education programs have shown a clear impact on screening rates.
Specifically, a 33% increase in diabetic retinopathy checkups and a 38% increase in diabetic neuropathy checkups was observed among patients who took part in educational programs about their condition.
The underlying message is that properly informing people with diabetes about why and how often they should have their eyes, feet or kidney function checked has a measurable effect on preventing serious long-term complications.