Type 2, poorly controlled & blurry vision . . .

[Rabster]

Hi All,

New to the Forum, I was diagnosed with type 2 about 5 years ago, but have been in denial - now I've been concerned as my HbA1c has come back quite high & my eyes have been blurry for the last 4-5 days & I can't read anything close up (laptop currently at 150% so I can read it).

I'm on Metformin 2 x am, 2 x pm, Gliclazide 2 x am, 1 x pm & Proglitazone 1 x am (sine Monday) - I haven't had my bloods under 15 till today, but am really worried about my eyesight & the GP today just wasn't concerned - should I be please?

I've switched to low carb, low fat etc & have a very supportive husband who's heloing me, I do Karate twice a week & work full time - what else can I do please?

Many thanks in advance

Rab xx

 

[sanguine]

Hi, welcome Rab

You've come to the right place and it's never too late to start turning things around, but you need to get those blood sugars under better control. I'm surprised your GP wasn't concerned. Have a good read around, including the items linked in my wig below, and ask any questions.

 

[eger]

Hi All,

New to the Forum, I was diagnosed with type 2 about 5 years ago, but have been in denial - now I've been concerned as my HbA1c has come back quite high & my eyes have been blurry for the last 4-5 days & I can't read anything close up (laptop currently at 150% so I can read it).

I'm on Metformin 2 x am, 2 x pm, Gliclazide 2 x am, 1 x pm & Proglitazone 1 x am (sine Monday) - I haven't had my bloods under 15 till today, but am really worried about my eyesight & the GP today just wasn't concerned - should I be please?

I've switched to low carb, low fat etc & have a very supportive husband who's heloing me, I do Karate twice a week & work full time - what else can I do please?

Many thanks in advance

Rab xx

 

[eger]

Hi Rab. Same story here. Denial is wrong word for me cos everyday I wasn't doing anything about it It was always in my mind. Anyway long story short back on glucophage twice day but sugars are not responding as quickly to diet change and tabs still barely out of the teens for only part of day and mid teens fasting. But it is what it is and we can just keep doing good things and hope for the best.

 

[JTL]

You seriously need to get those sugars down because you will be suffering nerve damage at those levels .... probably as we speak.
No breakfast cereals.
No sugar.
No bread.
No spuds.
No pasta.
No noodles.
No beer ... alcohols ok but beer is liquid bread.
Sounds severe but at some point you can start introducing small portions of carbs back into your diet.
You might have to up the fats.
Take a look at this link .... http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
Not everyone has to do this. There are different approaches but right now you seriously need to get those readings down and you can in a matter of days hopefully.
I suspect your doctor is one of many who knows little about T2 diabetes or just doesn't care because to not be concerned about your high readings is a dereliction of duty in my book.
Welcome to the right place.

 

[Rabster]

Thanks very much for your reploes - I'm working hard on it, but eas really disappointed with the Doctors lack of care for my situation - I've got an appointment on 20th April with the Diabetic Specialist & hope she'll be more informative, but still concerned about the blurry vision! xx

 

[JTL]

Thanks very much for your reploes - I'm working hard on it, but eas really disappointed with the Doctors lack of care for my situation - I've got an appointment on 20th April with the Diabetic Specialist & hope she'll be more informative, but still concerned about the blurry vision! xx

The specialists can be quite disappointing too unfortunately.
Bookmark this place because it will probably be the most important place in your diabetic journey for learning and healing.

 

[Rabster]

Already done, along with some of the other lists - I really appreciate your help! xx

 

[JTL]

Already done, along with some of the other lists - I really appreciate your help! xx

Look forward to seeing you around.
Endless help and support on here.
If you need to ask ask away .... your limited to one million questions I think so don't waste them!

 

[Totto]

Hi All,

New to the Forum, I was diagnosed with type 2 about 5 years ago, but have been in denial - now I've been concerned as my HbA1c has come back quite high & my eyes have been blurry for the last 4-5 days & I can't read anything close up (laptop currently at 150% so I can read it).

I'm on Metformin 2 x am, 2 x pm, Gliclazide 2 x am, 1 x pm & Proglitazone 1 x am (sine Monday) - I haven't had my bloods under 15 till today, but am really worried about my eyesight & the GP today just wasn't concerned - should I be please?

I've switched to low carb, low fat etc & have a very supportive husband who's heloing me, I do Karate twice a week & work full time - what else can I do please?

Many thanks in advance

Rab xx

Low carb is good and testing is good. Low fat may not be so good. When you cut down on carbs you'll need fats instead so go ahead and eat everything, that is fat and protein, but not carbs, until you are full.

Do you get test strips from your GP or do you have to fund them yourself?

What was your latest HbA1c?

 

[rowan]

Just after I started low carbing my eyes went very blurry, I couldn't read a book even with my reading glasses, needed reading glasses to use laptop even though I also increased the print size, I was really scared.
Buy I was told on here that it's a common problem when high BGs start going down and after a couple of weeks they started improving and now after 2 months my eyes have been completely back to normal for a few weeks.
I know it's easy to say 'don't worry' but since it happened to me I've read many other people on here say they same has happened to them, and it does improve, so, don't worry

 

[Rabster]

Low carb is good and testing is good. Low fat may not be so good. When you cut down on carbs you'll need fats instead so go ahead and eat everything, that is fat and protein, but not carbs, until you are full.

Do you get test strips from your GP or do you have to fund them yourself?

What was your latest HbA1c?

Latest HbA1c was atoub 16 & I've only got it under 15 about 3 times since Monday . . . I've cut out carbs & having read some of the liniks earlier, am not worrying about the fat content - just had a big, fat chicken dinner with loads of veg & only 2 teaspoons of mash, followed by a yoghurt. I've got loads of great ideas now for meals, which is really helpful, as I get stressy when I'm hungry lol!

Edited to add: I get my test strips prescribed by my GP Quite lucky, apparently!

 

[Rabster]

Just after I started low carbing my eyes went very blurry, I couldn't read a book even with my reading glasses, needed reading glasses to use laptop even though I also increased the print size, I was really scared.
Buy I was told on here that it's a common problem when high BGs start going down and after a couple of weeks they started improving and now after 2 months my eyes have been completely back to normal for a few weeks.
I know it's easy to say 'don't worry' but since it happened to me I've read many other people on here say they same has happened to them, and it does improve, so, don't worry

Thanks SO much for that!!! I've been scared witless, worried I'm going to lose my sight & have my laptop up really big, can't even read texts, got Hubby reading them for me! Fingers crossed it'll go down soon! xx

 

[sanguine]

Latest HbA1c was atoub 16 & I've only got it under 15 about 3 times since Monday . . .

Hi @Rabster I think you're confusing the BGs you do with your meter and the longer term average (HbA1c) that is done through your surgery.

 

[rowan]

Thanks SO much for that!!! I've been scared witless, worried I'm going to lose my sight & have my laptop up really big, can't even read texts, got Hubby reading them for me! Fingers crossed it'll go down soon! xx

I'm sure it will. Mine lasted a couple of weeks or so, I don't know if it takes more or less time for others, but we're all different in reactions so don't worry if it takes a bit longer,
I booked a retinal screening while they were bad and the results came though perfect, no problems

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome.I suspect at your next appointment your GP may discuss moving to insulin or another injectable. These can work very well and can be the obvious next step after several tablets no longer work. I had the same problem after about 7 years. Note that if you are not overweight then you may actually be Late onset T1 which usually means iinsulin in the longer-term but don't worry as it's not a problem. You say your are low-carbing so I asume you have little excess weight? Yes as another poster has said do have enough protein and fat to balance the low-carbs. It wasn't too clear what your HBa1C was last time but anything over 7%-8% needs serious attention from the GP

 

[Rabster]

Hi and welcome.I suspect at your next appointment your GP may discuss moving to insulin or another injectable. These can work very well and can be the obvious next step after several tablets no longer work. I had the same problem after about 7 years. Note that if you are not overweight then you may actually be Late onset T1 which usually means iinsulin in the longer-term but don't worry as it's not a problem. You say your are low-carbing so I asume you have little excess weight? Yes as another poster has said do have enough protein and fat to balance the low-carbs. It wasn't too clear what your HBa1C was last time but anything over 7%-8% needs serious attention from the GP

Oh no - I'm a fat bird - although Im relatively fit, having played Ice Hockey for 26 years & now I do Karate - I'm about 16 1/2 stone & only 5ft6, so I know I have a way to go . . . I only started the low carbing on Friday, when I got the wake up call & blurry eyes.

My HbA1C was 135 I think, I know it was high . . .

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Best wishes RRB

 

[jack412]

Hi All,

New to the Forum, I was diagnosed with type 2 about 5 years ago, but have been in denial - now I've been concerned as my HbA1c has come back quite high & my eyes have been blurry for the last 4-5 days & I can't read anything close up (laptop currently at 150% so I can read it).

I'm on Metformin 2 x am, 2 x pm, Gliclazide 2 x am, 1 x pm & Proglitazone 1 x am (sine Monday) - I haven't had my bloods under 15 till today, but am really worried about my eyesight & the GP today just wasn't concerned - should I be please?

I've switched to low carb, low fat etc & have a very supportive husband who's heloing me, I do Karate twice a week & work full time - what else can I do please?

Many thanks in advance

Rab xx

Hi, low carb diet is very good for T2 and it looks like you are seeing BG results already.
I went on LCHF because fats give me the energy back from cutting carbs
it’s a long page and a few good video’s
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

"Dr Eric C. Westman, MD and president elect of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, has 15 years of experience helping patients lose weight and improve their health using low carb. He has also helped do several high-quality scientific studies on low carb."
" Don't do low fat " @4.00 minutes in to video

 

[Rabster]

Thank you!! I've been CRAVING some form of carbs & thought it was because I was missing chocolate & bread, but I'e also got headaches & feel fley - wondered if I was in withdrawal lol. It's a complete & utter change of life & it's bloody hard, but it's got to be done.

I've got some great ideas from various links people have shared with me & really appreciate the help - I've written a 'mummy' shopping list for hubby to go out & get for me, so I always have something to snack on & will be adjusting what I have for main meals alongside the boys,

This place is great - thank you!