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Are there any eye complication success stories?

M

MarkC380

Newbie
I feel like I always hear about the bad, and it stresses me out and is taking a toll on my mental health. I figured what better place to hear and celebrate success stories than right here on the forums? :)

I wish you all good health, and I look forward to hearing about your journeys.
 
My HbA1c reduced rather quickly in 2021 as I moved onto hybrid closed loop. It went from 78 to around 38 (I can’t remember exactly but it was a big drop). At my next eye screening I was told I had Maculopathy in June 2022. I kept good control and was lucky I needed no treatment and was discharged from hospital 3 monthly eye screenings in August 2024 as my eye issues had resolved.
 
Hi. Bit of a long post.

I’m new to the group and would just like to share some information that may help.

I’ve been diabetic for 36 years. Have background retinopathy and just had my annual eye screening and been told I have signs of Diabetic Maculopathy in my right eye. I had previously been diagnosed with this in 2018 but it had resolved itself by the time I went for my next eye appointment at the hospital 3 months later.

After doing much research when finding out I had been diagnosed with Maculopathy I’d started taking the supplements ICaps which contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin. They are amazing for eye health and also Billberry supplements which are also great for eye health.

These supplements have also been recommended to me (when I mentioned them) by my Ophthalmologist.

Finding out you have anything that could damage your sight is awful. I strongly believe these supplements helped my eyes as well as having better sugar control.

Hope this little bit of information can help even just one person. Xx
 
Nic J said:
Hi. Bit of a long post.

I’m new to the group and would just like to share some information that may help.

I’ve been diabetic for 36 years. Have background retinopathy and just had my annual eye screening and been told I have signs of Diabetic Maculopathy in my right eye. I had previously been diagnosed with this in 2018 but it had resolved itself by the time I went for my next eye appointment at the hospital 3 months later.

After doing much research when finding out I had been diagnosed with Maculopathy I’d started taking the supplements ICaps which contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin. They are amazing for eye health and also Billberry supplements which are also great for eye health.

These supplements have also been recommended to me (when I mentioned them) by my Ophthalmologist.

Finding out you have anything that could damage your sight is awful. I strongly believe these supplements helped my eyes as well as having better sugar control.

Hope this little bit of information can help even just one person. Xx
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I just ordered some of those supplements this morning - my eyesight has always been a challenge to the opticians and last time I had my eyes tested I was told I was the only person on their books who had all the boxes filled in on their test sheet. Since getting my new glasses my eyesight has improved somewhat - not immediately, but after a couple of weeks I found I could once again see to thread my sewing machine needle.
As my finances are improving, I decided to try out various things supposed to help with an aging body.

I did have background retinopathy at diagnosis - found in 2017, but a year later it was gone.
 
Resurgam said:
I just ordered some of those supplements this morning - my eyesight has always been a challenge to the opticians and last time I had my eyes tested I was told I was the only person on their books who had all the boxes filled in on their test sheet. Since getting my new glasses my eyesight has improved somewhat - not immediately, but after a couple of weeks I found I could once again see to thread my sewing machine needle.
As my finances are improving, I decided to try out various things supposed to help with an aging body.

I did have background retinopathy at diagnosis - found in 2017, but a year later it was gone.
Click to expand...
I really do believe these helped as well as good sugar control. And having the ophthalmologist recommend them as well is great. Hopefully at my follow up eye screening in June it has cleared up.
 
Briefly: 7 laser treatments in total in both eyes 1979-1983, having been told in 1979 that I needed to get my act together to avoid going blind by 1981. Fortyy-two years later I still have good visual acuity and I quote "Extraordinary for someone who has a history like yours" which an ophthalmologist cheered me with only last year. I only wear reading glasses and still drive. Look after your blood glucose as best you can is the secret to my fortune. Best of luck @MarkC380
 
Nicola M said:
My HbA1c reduced rather quickly in 2021 as I moved onto hybrid closed loop. It went from 78 to around 38 (I can’t remember exactly but it was a big drop). At my next eye screening I was told I had Maculopathy in June 2022. I kept good control and was lucky I needed no treatment and was discharged from hospital 3 monthly eye screenings in August 2024 as my eye issues had resolved.
Click to expand...
Oh my goodness - this is so good to hear... thank you! I'm so pleased your eye issues have resolved. I was diagnosed type 1 (at age 51) after a chronic DKA episode and have just had the results of my first eye screening which showed signs of Maculopathy... My HbA1c has reduced from 140 to 40 in three months, which was obviously not good. Being really careful but your success story is the reassurance I needed today that it can improve. Thank you!
 
Nic J said:
After doing much research when finding out I had been diagnosed with Maculopathy I’d started taking the supplements ICaps which contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin. They are amazing for eye health and also Billberry supplements which are also great for eye health.
Click to expand...

Forum rules mean that you need to supply links when you make statements not based on personal experience (rule B13 states we don't give medical advice and any advice needs to be based on your own experience or a reputable third party link https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/community-ethos-forum-rules.50278/ )

Have you got a link for this claim? I've found one for lutein and zeaxanthin https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/lutein-zeaxanthin-vision
but all I could find for bilberry was https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/bilberry which is positive but says there haven't been any studies.
 
Type 1 of 50 years.
Last hba1c was 39 which is 5.7.
My control is getting better and better as i get older ........
The libre was a gamechanger for me as the data available is superb compared to finger pricks.
I'm actually a bit thick in general but my analytical skills with all the data has led to me achieving excellent control.
My current time in range is 94%!

Take this a stage further and it has affected my mental health in a positive way as i'm a smug git!!! lol

Can i also give 4mm needles a shout too as i can inject in the dark and i can whip out my novopen anytime anywhere and nobody even notices and there is rarely any pain or discomfort.

As an old hack i have embraced the new tech and marvel at it and still get a shiver of delight when i put a new sensor on whereas new or fairly recently diagnosed diabetics tend to take things for granted.

I wish everyone all the luck in the world and i think the future is bright...

Tony
 
Sorry i got carried away and forgot to add i had laser treatment 25 years ago and whilst i still go for the photographs nothing has deteriorated in 25 years and i still work and drive.....
 
Grant_Vicat said:
Briefly: 7 laser treatments in total in both eyes 1979-1983, having been told in 1979 that I needed to get my act together to avoid going blind by 1981. Fortyy-two years later I still have good visual acuity and I quote "Extraordinary for someone who has a history like yours" which an ophthalmologist cheered me with only last year. I only wear reading glasses and still drive. Look after your blood glucose as best you can is the secret to my fortune. Best of luck @MarkC380
Click to expand...

What medication your take?
 
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