Hi all,
This is my first time posting but I feel so strongly about some of the comments I have read tonight that I felt compelled to write.
Whilst some of the content of the threads is accurate, much of it is not! I have had T1DM for 28 years now and yes I have been through the whole horrible retinopathy too. Admittedly my HbA1c results were horrendous as a teenager but remember it's hard to get a teenager to agree to coming home on time, let alone keeping their sugars perfect, and no I do not see my retinopathy as 'an inevitable consequence'!
I too have had tons of laser to both eyes but remember, laser is designed to attach the retina more strongly so that the new vessels have less chance of causing detachment. Also, by some as still unknown mechanism (possibly inhibition of the VEGF) pan retinal photocoaglation is the best chance of a diabetic retaining their sight. Essentially you are sacrificing your peripheral vision, or at least some of it, to maintain central vision which is far more useful.
Anyway I am not here to give information on retinopathy I am here to inspire hope! Despite these set backs, I am in my thirties now and both a qualified doctor and pharmacist. I enjoy life, work hard, about to get married and no, don't spend every minute of every day worrying about sugar levels! Sure I test regularly, inject as I should and stick to a healthy diet mainly, but the latter is more as I don't wish to be overweight rather than because certain foods are forbidden! With carb counting many diabetics have been given the freedom of an essentially 'normal' diet, no more strict than that that is recommended for the general population! It is the ability to know how to adjust insulin and exercise accordingly that is paramount, not avoiding Jaffa cakes! Everything in moderation.
The person who spoke about trying to attain almost 'normal' HbA1c levels needs to start living a bit! Show me a T1 diabetic with an HbA1c of below 6.5% who doesn't have a problem with hypos interrupting their life and I will show you a liar. Diabetes is a chronic condition and encouraging people to try and attain normal levels will only invoke feelings of failure and, desperation. As doctors we have to balance quality of life too and this is why we look at <7.5% as a good result. It comes from the DCCT trial that looked at thousands of people and found a level which was attainable which at the same time kept the possibility of complications to a minimum. It is not the perfect figure at all but at the end of the day if every diabetic could attain a non-diabetic HbA1c level we would have treatment nailed! Unfortunately this is not the case for the vast majority of diabetics however hard they try.
I am not here to preach as I have suffered my own problems, I just want to encourage people to do their best, and yes, you cannot ignore it, but scare mongering does not help give a quality of life. Unfortunately a cure does not seem anytime soon but we will get there one day! For now we just keep on trying and I hope my story shows that living with diabetes and it's setbacks doesn't necessarily mean not being able to achieve your goals. Bear in mind, trying your best and being aware to identify early problems ensures many complications can be treated or managed well enough to allow the leading of a rewarding life.
This is my first time posting but I feel so strongly about some of the comments I have read tonight that I felt compelled to write.
Whilst some of the content of the threads is accurate, much of it is not! I have had T1DM for 28 years now and yes I have been through the whole horrible retinopathy too. Admittedly my HbA1c results were horrendous as a teenager but remember it's hard to get a teenager to agree to coming home on time, let alone keeping their sugars perfect, and no I do not see my retinopathy as 'an inevitable consequence'!
I too have had tons of laser to both eyes but remember, laser is designed to attach the retina more strongly so that the new vessels have less chance of causing detachment. Also, by some as still unknown mechanism (possibly inhibition of the VEGF) pan retinal photocoaglation is the best chance of a diabetic retaining their sight. Essentially you are sacrificing your peripheral vision, or at least some of it, to maintain central vision which is far more useful.
Anyway I am not here to give information on retinopathy I am here to inspire hope! Despite these set backs, I am in my thirties now and both a qualified doctor and pharmacist. I enjoy life, work hard, about to get married and no, don't spend every minute of every day worrying about sugar levels! Sure I test regularly, inject as I should and stick to a healthy diet mainly, but the latter is more as I don't wish to be overweight rather than because certain foods are forbidden! With carb counting many diabetics have been given the freedom of an essentially 'normal' diet, no more strict than that that is recommended for the general population! It is the ability to know how to adjust insulin and exercise accordingly that is paramount, not avoiding Jaffa cakes! Everything in moderation.
The person who spoke about trying to attain almost 'normal' HbA1c levels needs to start living a bit! Show me a T1 diabetic with an HbA1c of below 6.5% who doesn't have a problem with hypos interrupting their life and I will show you a liar. Diabetes is a chronic condition and encouraging people to try and attain normal levels will only invoke feelings of failure and, desperation. As doctors we have to balance quality of life too and this is why we look at <7.5% as a good result. It comes from the DCCT trial that looked at thousands of people and found a level which was attainable which at the same time kept the possibility of complications to a minimum. It is not the perfect figure at all but at the end of the day if every diabetic could attain a non-diabetic HbA1c level we would have treatment nailed! Unfortunately this is not the case for the vast majority of diabetics however hard they try.
I am not here to preach as I have suffered my own problems, I just want to encourage people to do their best, and yes, you cannot ignore it, but scare mongering does not help give a quality of life. Unfortunately a cure does not seem anytime soon but we will get there one day! For now we just keep on trying and I hope my story shows that living with diabetes and it's setbacks doesn't necessarily mean not being able to achieve your goals. Bear in mind, trying your best and being aware to identify early problems ensures many complications can be treated or managed well enough to allow the leading of a rewarding life.