de Fine Olivarius et al. BMC Public Health 2011, 11:80 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/80 associated with diabetes is largely preventable through diligent ophthalmological follow up and surgical intervention. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the patients, ophthalmologists and general practitioners who participated in the study and to Lise Bergsøe for her expert technical assistance. Major funding for this study was received from The Danish Medical Research Council, The Danish Research Foundation for General Practice, The Health Insurance Foundation, The Danish Ministry of Health, Novo Nordisk Farmaka Denmark Ltd., and The Pharmacy Foundation. Author details 1The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2University Eye Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 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