title: Mayombian ethnic, vegetables low intake, insulin treatment, diabetic nephropathy and severe diabetic retinopathy are determinants of blindness in diabetic Africans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and causes of blindness in diabetic Africans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey carried out among known black diabetics consecutively admitted at the Teaching Hospital, University of Kinshasa, between 2005 and 2007. Examination methods included interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, eye examinations (visual acuity, tonometry, funduscopy), and fasting plasma glycaemia test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 227 patients examined, 15.9% had blindness. Univariate analyses showed significant association between female, severity of diabetic retinopathy, Mayombian ethnic group, use of insulin treatment, low intake of vegetables, diabetic nephropathy, open angle glaucoma and blindness in all diabetics. After logistic regression, only diabetic nephropathy, use of insulin treatment, macular oedema, Mayombian ethnic group and vegetables low intake were the independent risk factors of blindness in all diabetics. However, after logistic regression in the sub-group with diabetic retinopathy, only open angle glaucoma and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were the independent determinants of blindness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the causes of blindness in these diabetic Africans are avoidable. It is recommended that appropriate diabetes care, nutrition education, periodic eye examination and laser photocoagulation facilities should be provided for treating diabetics in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Teaching Hospital, DR Congo.
authors.forename: Mvitu Muaka
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moise
authors.forename: Longo-Mbenza
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: Cibanda Yokobo
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Enoch
authors.forename: Longo Phemba
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Igor
keywords: Africans; Mayombe; blindness; diabetes mellitus; diabetic retinopathy; ethnicity; insulin treatment