{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1870227,
        "msgid": "diabetes-patients-urged-to-undergo-regular-eye-checks-to-prevent-permanent-blindness-1784548225",
        "date": "2026-07-20 17:39:00",
        "title": "Diabetes Patients Urged to Undergo Regular Eye Checks to Prevent Permanent Blindness",
        "author": "Gana Buana",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Health",
        "summary": "Professor Muhammad Bayu Sasongko from Gadjah Mada University has urged people with diabetes to stop dismissing vision problems as a normal part of ageing, warning that such complacency can lead to permanent blindness. He highlighted that diabetic retinopathy is preventable with early detection and proper management, as uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels in the eye. The call comes as Indonesian health data projects a continued rise in diabetes cases, with an estimated one in ten citizens currently living with the condition.",
        "content": "<p>Professor Muhammad Bayu Sasongko, an ophthalmology expert from Gadjah\nMada University (UGM), has called on the public to stop normalising\nblurred vision as an inevitable consequence of ageing or diabetes.\nSpeaking at a health forum in Jakarta, he warned that this misconception\noften causes patients to delay medical examinations, leading to\ncomplications and permanent blindness. He stressed that diabetic\nretinopathy, a serious complication of diabetes mellitus, can be\nprevented if patients undergo regular early detection and receive\nappropriate medical treatment from the onset of symptoms. Data from the\nIndonesian Health Survey (SKI) indicates that the prevalence of diabetes\nin the country continues to rise, with an estimated one in ten people\ncurrently living with the condition. The International Diabetes\nFederation (IDF) has also recorded that the number of diabetes sufferers\nin Indonesia has surpassed 20 million and is projected to increase to 30\nmillion by 2045. Allowing complications to progress not only drastically\nreduces a patient\u2019s quality of life but also imposes psychological and\nfinancial burdens on families. Patients who lose their sight lose their\nindependence and access to essential information, given that 85 percent\nof human sensory information is captured visually. Through widespread\neducation, it is hoped that people with diabetes will become more\nproactive in having their eye health checked, as regular screening is\nkey to avoiding the risk of blindness that can destroy productivity and\nfuture prospects.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/diabetes-patients-urged-to-undergo-regular-eye-checks-to-prevent-permanent-blindness-1784548225",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}