Diabetic retinopathy is an increasingly common medical issue in the United States. The risk of developing the disease or having the disease progress is caused by many systemic health factors. This article examines the existing literature on the links between glycemic control, arterial hypertension, high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia, obesity, inflammatory markers, sleep-disordered breathing, and exercise with risk of diabetic retinopathy development and prevention. The literature shows benefit for good glycemic and blood pressure control. The effects of cholesterol, and lipid control, inflammatory markers, sleep-disordered breathing, obesity, and exercise are less well established.
Keywords: Cholesterol; Diabetic retinopathy; Exercise; Hypertension; Obesity; Sleep-disordered breathing.