I can see this is one of the oft discussed subjects so I'll try not to bore you too much but an interesting story I hope it will be?
I'm a T2' diagnosed about 20 years ago after a 'prolactinoma' was discovered on my 'pituitary gland'. Several test later I was told, your diabetic, take this medication etc etc etc, you get the picture. I took the meds for the prolactin issue and a few years and MRI's later, sorted, no longer an issue but was left with the T2. I lived life to the full, ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted, never really paying much attention to my blood sugar levels, thought I could get away with it..... BIG mistake!
I was an HGV Driver, yes that's right, WAS! Long story short, I had to renew my licence at 45 years of age and could not read the eye chart correctly with my left eye. A few test later, you've got diabetic retinopathy! **** and blast, unable to renew my licence, career down the pan, what do I do? Well, extensive laser treatment, 'dry' locally and eventually, 'wet' at Moorfields, I say eventually because whilst I had secured a non HGV driving job, I broke my leg, tibial-plateau fracture and ended up on my back, non-weight bearing for about 9 months! During that time I developed a DVT and had to go on Warfarin, and then the problems began......!
Diabetic Retinopathy, essentially lack of oxygen to the back of the eye, hence the growth of further delicate blood vessels to improve the blood/oxygen supply. With me so far? If they burst, and they do, the blood is absorbed and you are left with 'scar-tissue' that pinches the retina and causes vision issues...... Keep up now! Whilst on that damned Warfarin, I had a bleed in my right eye..... Warfarin thins your blood to stop it clotting..... It did not stop bleeding..... Eventually it did but it was too late, I went down to Moorfields to try and get it sorted (wet laser work) but the blood had become 'organised' (part of the retina) and despite valiant efforts, it could not be cleared sufficiently to restore my eyesight...... Anyway, career well and truly over, blind in one eye, about 20% max in the other, registered blind, blah blah blah. Same old story wherever you go, all over the world people are diagnosed with Diabetes and don't do anything about it......! I apologise, I digress, the main point of this post is to warn you all of the perils of Warfarin and Diabetic Retinopathy..... They don't mix!
My last point is simple, if you are diagnosed with Diabetes, SORT IT OUT STRAIGHT AWAY. Get your eyes checked regularly, at least once a year if there are no problems and more frequently if there are, oh! and don't break your leg, well at least avoid that nasty Warfarin......!
Happy days
I'm a T2' diagnosed about 20 years ago after a 'prolactinoma' was discovered on my 'pituitary gland'. Several test later I was told, your diabetic, take this medication etc etc etc, you get the picture. I took the meds for the prolactin issue and a few years and MRI's later, sorted, no longer an issue but was left with the T2. I lived life to the full, ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted, never really paying much attention to my blood sugar levels, thought I could get away with it..... BIG mistake!
I was an HGV Driver, yes that's right, WAS! Long story short, I had to renew my licence at 45 years of age and could not read the eye chart correctly with my left eye. A few test later, you've got diabetic retinopathy! **** and blast, unable to renew my licence, career down the pan, what do I do? Well, extensive laser treatment, 'dry' locally and eventually, 'wet' at Moorfields, I say eventually because whilst I had secured a non HGV driving job, I broke my leg, tibial-plateau fracture and ended up on my back, non-weight bearing for about 9 months! During that time I developed a DVT and had to go on Warfarin, and then the problems began......!
Diabetic Retinopathy, essentially lack of oxygen to the back of the eye, hence the growth of further delicate blood vessels to improve the blood/oxygen supply. With me so far? If they burst, and they do, the blood is absorbed and you are left with 'scar-tissue' that pinches the retina and causes vision issues...... Keep up now! Whilst on that damned Warfarin, I had a bleed in my right eye..... Warfarin thins your blood to stop it clotting..... It did not stop bleeding..... Eventually it did but it was too late, I went down to Moorfields to try and get it sorted (wet laser work) but the blood had become 'organised' (part of the retina) and despite valiant efforts, it could not be cleared sufficiently to restore my eyesight...... Anyway, career well and truly over, blind in one eye, about 20% max in the other, registered blind, blah blah blah. Same old story wherever you go, all over the world people are diagnosed with Diabetes and don't do anything about it......! I apologise, I digress, the main point of this post is to warn you all of the perils of Warfarin and Diabetic Retinopathy..... They don't mix!
My last point is simple, if you are diagnosed with Diabetes, SORT IT OUT STRAIGHT AWAY. Get your eyes checked regularly, at least once a year if there are no problems and more frequently if there are, oh! and don't break your leg, well at least avoid that nasty Warfarin......!
Happy days
