Background retinopathy = terrified :(

Merluna

Active Member
Messages
28
Ok, I really hope someone can cheer me up, put my mind at rest or at least make me feel a bit better! 18 months ago I was diagnosed t2 diabetic, with hyperinsulinism due to PCOS. My hba1c was 12! Within 3 months I had it down to 8, then 7.2 then 6.3 and now 5! My first retinal photos showed nothing, was expecting the same this time as my control has only gotten better! I am totally gutted, feel sick to my stomach that now I have background retinopathy! Especially as my control is better! In fact my doctors own words were 'please go out and tell everyone else his you are doing it! Your amazing!' I fact I worry now as frequently my bsl is 3's and 4's early pm so I have to eat something even if not hungry!

Does anyone have any experience of this? I feel many sleepless night coming!
Can it, will it reverse if it's because of poor control for so many years before diagnosis?

Please help if you can!
 

Disneyfan

Well-Known Member
Messages
60
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Merluna

I was diagnosed in May 2012 and at my first retinopathy scan it said I had background retinopathy. This scared the life out of me as my mum is T2 and suffering severe macular degeneration/glaucoma the works... she's currently on lucentis injections which are helping but she can't see to drive etc. At that point my fasting levels were 17 with an hba1c over 100. Last May my scan came back clear ... i'd lost 5 stone and my hba1c was down to 36 (5.4). So I guess it can reverse - or at least that's my experience. fingers crossed for you.
 

MarkE

Well-Known Member
Messages
72
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Woo
Ok, I really hope someone can cheer me up, put my mind at rest or at least make me feel a bit better! 18 months ago I was diagnosed t2 diabetic, with hyperinsulinism due to PCOS. My hba1c was 12! Within 3 months I had it down to 8, then 7.2 then 6.3 and now 5! My first retinal photos showed nothing, was expecting the same this time as my control has only gotten better! I am totally gutted, feel sick to my stomach that now I have background retinopathy! Especially as my control is better! In fact my doctors own words were 'please go out and tell everyone else his you are doing it! Your amazing!' I fact I worry now as frequently my bsl is 3's and 4's early pm so I have to eat something even if not hungry!

Does anyone have any experience of this? I feel many sleepless night coming!
Can it, will it reverse if it's because of poor control for so many years before diagnosis?

Please help if you can!

Background retinopathy is not the dangerous type- you will need to reach "proliferative retinopathy" before you are in danger, and even then laser surgery is usually enough to arrest the problem.

I'm one of the unlucky ones myself, having needed 9 sessions of surgery so far between both eyes- but I still have my central vision, I still work, and I still see well enough to take (though I say it myself) **** fine photographs.

So, in short: don't worry too much- keep the control good, eat well, avoid stress as much as you can, and all should be well.
 

Yorksman

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,445
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I had one small bleed on my photo and the opthalmologist told me that it was nothing and would probably be reabsorbed but I would get a letter from the agency who studied the photos telling me that there had been background changes and that I would be required to go for another appointment next year.

They are paid by the NHS to do this so it is in their interest to find any excuse to get you back. However, if it is serious, they get you referred to a specialist.

It panics people but, come back next year is a sure sign that it is not urgent.

Sure enough I got a letter last week asking me to make another appointment.
 

Tar811

Member
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diabetes
Scared. Have had blurred vision and 'black shades' for a while but put it down to a head injury I recently had. However I was diagnosed T2 last week and my first diabetic eye screen is today.
My GP said to leave it 1 month after diagnosed but I'm to scared to leave it any longer. What is the general consensus on this peeps? x


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saramaz75

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had background retinopathy on diagnosis, when I went to se my dsn a couple of weeks later she told me that with good control it could reverse itself, not sure if this is true or if she was trying to make me feel better.

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John_ch

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Not a lot!
I was also diagnosed with background retinopathy around the time I was also diagnosed with T2 in 2008. Since then it has either stayed the same ( early signs ) or come back no changes. For the past 6 month my bloods have been running at an average of 20 and my last exam ( 4 days ago ) came back as no changes.
I think you can relax and not worry about it as someone else has said, if the medical staff were worried about it I am sure they would have told you and arranged for follow up treatment.



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B

badcat

Guest
When I was first diagnosed I was told I must have been diabetic for at least 15-20 years pre diagnosis as I already had background retinopathy.
Since diagnosis I have managed to keep pretty good BG control and my retinal screening always comes back with a report saying either normal or mild background retinopathy.
My first retinal screen was 18 years ago so I'd say keep your BG under control and relax
 

Merluna

Active Member
Messages
28
Thanks for all your advice guys! It is much appreciated! I rang the opticians where the photos were done today and they looked over them for me and said the change was sooo tiny and only in one place in one eye. As you have all said, just keep doing what I'm doing and don't worry too much!
Tara881 I would just get it out of the way, it's better to know what your facing! Hope it goes/went ok for you!

Thanks again for all your advice xx
 
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