Quality Standards for Diabetes Care Toolkit

Management of diabetes complications

Standard 9

All people with diabetes should have access to regular retinal photography or an eye examination, with subsequent specialist treatment if necessary.
Key practice points

All people with diabetes are at risk of developing retinopathy. Māori and Pacific peoples have a higher incidence of moderate and severe diabetic retinopathy.

There are minimum screening and monitoring requirements. Substantial available evidence shows cost effectiveness and benefits of eye screening and monitoring.

The New Zealand National Diabetes Retinal Screening Grading System and Referral Guidelines (Ministry of Health 2008) provide guidance for screening and monitoring. These are currently under review.

Read this standard in conjunction with the equality and diversity section in the Introduction to the Toolkit.