A client with which condition is at increased risk for developing diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication associated specifically with diabetes mellitus. This condition develops due to damage to the blood vessels in the retina, caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels that compromise vascular health. Individuals with diabetes experience fluctuations in glucose levels that can lead to increased vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and ultimately, retinal damage.

The risk for developing diabetic retinopathy increases in patients with poorly controlled diabetes over time, particularly those who have had diabetes for many years. Management of blood glucose levels is essential in preventing or delaying the onset of this complication. While hypertension and heart disease are conditions that can exacerbate the risk of various cardiovascular complications, they are not directly linked to the specific pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy in the same way diabetes mellitus is. Chronic lung disease does not have a direct relationship with the development of diabetic retinopathy either. Thus, diabetes mellitus remains the primary condition associated with this particular eye complication.