Kim Hartman, a talented artist and Type 1 diabetes patient, has always expressed herself through her vibrant paintings and intricate sketches.
But as much as art was her passion, it was also the source of her deepest fear: losing her vision.
Vision issues are a common but serious complication of all forms of diabetes.
Since her diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes as a young adult, Hartman had spent years managing the condition’s daily challenges.
Still, the thought of developing diabetic retinal disease (formerly referred to as diabetic retinopathy) was her worst nightmare.
When vision problems, like eye floaters, began for her, Hartman sought care at Michigan Medicine.
She was referred to Thomas W. Gardner, M.D., M.S., an ophthalmologist who specializes in diseases of the back of the eye, particularly those caused by diabetes like diabetic retinal disease.
From the moment she met Gardner, Hartman felt a sense of relief.
“He listened to my fears without judgment and took the time to explain everything to me,” Hartman said.
“I didn’t feel rushed or dismissed. Instead, I felt like I had someone on my team who genuinely cared about my health, and someone fighting for something deeply personal.”
Gardner’s brothers have Type 1 diabetes as well, driving his motivation to help others with the condition.
As part of her treatment at Michigan Medicine, Gardner connected her with the multidisciplinary Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes team, which includes diabetes education specialists and nutritionists, to ensure her overall diabetes management was optimized.
“Diabetes is a systemic disease, the eye part is just one manifestation of it,” Gardner said.
“For ophthalmologists to get the best eye outcome, we want our care to be comprehensive, taking the whole patient into account, to make sure all systemic risk factors are minimized. That’s a real advantage we have here at Michigan Medicine because we have outstanding diabetes specialists.”
Treating diabetic retinal disease
While Hartman managed her condition with regular monitoring and lifestyle adjustments, Gardner completed laser treatments to correct bleeding blood vessels and hemorrhaging in the eye, common symptoms of diabetic retinal disease and culprits behind vision loss.
Although the disease is typically treatable at this stage, these laser treatments often result in lasting vision loss, even as they stop the disease from worsening.
“We treat diabetic retinal disease now at the equivalent stage of kidney failure,” Gardner said.
Hartman’s treatment was a success and Gardner says she has a good prognosis for the future of her eyesight.
“As an artist and parent, my vision is everything. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I feared losing not just my sight but a part of who I am.
Thanks to early intervention and the right care, I’ve been able to preserve my vision — and, with it, my passion for creating. I’m endlessly grateful for the research and treatments that made this possible.”
A vision initiative
The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative at Michigan Medicine, founded after the actress lost most of her vision from diabetic eye disease, aims to advance research and treatments for diabetic eye diseases.
The hope is to get to patients before retinal bleeding, like what Hartman experienced, begins.
“As an artist and parent, my vision is everything. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I feared losing not just my sight but a part of who I am.
Thanks to early intervention and the right care, I’ve been able to preserve my vision — and, with it, my passion for creating. I’m endlessly grateful for the research and treatments that made this possible.”
“We put out the fire for Kim, but we want to prevent the fire,” Gardner said.
“As part of an international initiative, there are clinical studies and analysis of the eyes of people who had diabetes who have donated their eyes to better understand it.
We’re working hard to change the whole understanding of the disease and help people like Kim be able to retain their vision.”
“The point is to help Kim and, in doing so, help other people who have diabetes know that they can keep good vision through getting their eyes examined and taking the best possible care of their diabetes,” Gardner said.
Patients like Hartman can also benefit from and contribute to the work of the U-M Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute, a world leader in Type 1 diabetes research.
CDI researchers seek to prevent, treat, and cure the burdensome complications that diabetes can cause, including efforts to prevent and restore vision loss.
By continuously working with and learning from patients and partners like Hartman, CDI will continue to lead innovative and collaborative research that focuses on prevention, treatment, and cures for Type 1 diabetes and its devastating complications.
“Being at an academic medical center like Michigan Medicine made all the difference for me,” Hartman said.
“They have the latest technology and access to research and education that most places don’t but, more than that, they have a collaborative approach that incorporated my needs and preferences.”
Written by Annie Clarkson.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with diabetic neuropathic pain.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that Vitamin E could help reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance in diabetes, and results showing eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
