Aim/Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a medical condition in which damage occurs to the retina due to diabetes mellitus. The role of ‘longer term’ glucose stability in terms of HbA1c variability, and the occurrence and progression of diabetic complications among type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients remains elusive. This study aims to study the correlation of serum glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) with severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Patients and Methods: A descriptive correlative study was conducted with 200 patients and were investigated for diabetic retinopathy and HBA1c levels using laboratory investigations and detailed ocular examination.

Results: Diabetic retinopathy was the most commonly observed in >10 yrs of duration of diabetes (61.76% ) followed by 5 -10 yrs (27.45%) and < 5 years (10.78%). Diabetic retinopathy was most commonly observed in HBA1C levels of more than 10 gm (55.88%) followed by 7-10 gm (27.45%) and 7 gm (6.86%). There was statistically significant difference between duration of diabetes, HBA1C levels and diabetic retinopathy amongst study population (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy were found to have significantly raised serum glycosylated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c). The severity of Diabetic Retinopathy increased with raised levels of HbA1c noted mostly in patients with HbA1c levels more than 10 mg/dl. There was a significant correlation between Diabetic Retinopathy and duration of Diabetes Mellitus.

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; HbA1c Levels; Diabetic Retinopathy