Last Wednesday I had my yearly eye test and they said the test results would be 2-4 weeks. They arrived today. I have Diabetic Maculopathy. I have always been very blazee about my diabetes as it is type 2 and not type 1 but now have had a real wake up call. Just become Nanna for first time and really don't want to lose my sight. I know you are not meant to each carbs but cannot be without potatoes, bread or pasta. I can only eat a few vegetables and that is only with gravy and mint sauce. I don't like salad. I really need some help to get my sugars back to normal. The letter says I am being referred to hospital and may have to have injection in eye. I can't even swim under water with my eyes open let alone have an injection directly in the eye. PLEASE HELP. I know it is my own fault, but genuinely scared.
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Diabetic Maculopathy
- Thread starter debbedy37
- Start Date
Lainie71
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,390
- Location
- South
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- The term "big boned" lol repeatedly told this growing up!
I used to miss potatoes and carb laden meals but not anymore. Its a case of retraining the mind and the body will thank you for it. Lots of info on here and links to whats good to eat and whats bad. Bacon and eggs are nice, steak, fish, double cream with sugar free jelly as treat. There's loads of stuff a type 2 can eat. Good fats keep you full. Chicken is good also. I eat lots of salads and I often get called a rabbit but that's the way it is for me now. If you make your salads interesting by adding good things like spices herbs along with cold cuts of meat you will never be hungry. Its hard as I missed the carbs terribly and would cry because of it. Now I don't miss it. A stir fry is good also as well as cauliflower rice with chicken curry. You don't need to go hungry or feel you are missing out x
- Messages
- 492
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Firstly don’t panic over the maculopathy just yet.
8 years ago I had the same letter and referral to a consultant. He checked me over and said it was very minor. Saw me again 6 months later, said no progress in it and discharged me back to normal screening. Same happened one year later. Never been mentioned again. So the referral doesn’t mean treatment is inevitable and if you can get better control that will help. Incidentally my husband had cataracts done and said he didn’t feel the injection at all.
so, now perhaps focus on what you can eat on a low carb diet rather than what you can’t. So as much meat, fish, cheese, eggs, cream, butter as you like. If you don’t like salad don’t eat it! But what about baked Camembert with cucumber sticks to dip in it? Or tomatoes. How about coleslaw. Instead of gravy would you eat any vegetables with butter on? Scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, or Greek yoghurt and raspberries/strawberries? Strawberries and cream? Any soups? I like broccoli or cauliflower and blue cheese with a swirl of cream. Have a good look round here and you will find loads of ideas. If you like to cook there are lots of recipes on line.
there are low carb breads and rolls available to buy on line. Also I have just found a recipe for a white bread style waffle which makes great sandwiches. https://lowcarbyum.com/wonder-bread-chaffle/
8 years ago I had the same letter and referral to a consultant. He checked me over and said it was very minor. Saw me again 6 months later, said no progress in it and discharged me back to normal screening. Same happened one year later. Never been mentioned again. So the referral doesn’t mean treatment is inevitable and if you can get better control that will help. Incidentally my husband had cataracts done and said he didn’t feel the injection at all.
so, now perhaps focus on what you can eat on a low carb diet rather than what you can’t. So as much meat, fish, cheese, eggs, cream, butter as you like. If you don’t like salad don’t eat it! But what about baked Camembert with cucumber sticks to dip in it? Or tomatoes. How about coleslaw. Instead of gravy would you eat any vegetables with butter on? Scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, or Greek yoghurt and raspberries/strawberries? Strawberries and cream? Any soups? I like broccoli or cauliflower and blue cheese with a swirl of cream. Have a good look round here and you will find loads of ideas. If you like to cook there are lots of recipes on line.
there are low carb breads and rolls available to buy on line. Also I have just found a recipe for a white bread style waffle which makes great sandwiches. https://lowcarbyum.com/wonder-bread-chaffle/
Barba_Rossa
Well-Known Member
Congratulations on becoming ‘Nanna’ - that must be so exciting. Hopefully it can also be a motivation for you to make the changes that will mean you can be around longer and can take part fully in the little one’s life.
Type 2 is not to be messed with. It can take your sight and can lead to amputations of the feet or even if you don’t get to that, nerve damage that can really impact your quality of life. It also does damage to vital organs like the liver and the kidneys.
I don’t say any of that to scare you but to put the choice in context. There is no medical fix for this. The pills and the insulin alone will slow the progress but they won’t stop or reverse it.
The only thing shown to do that is significant lifestyle change. Many on here follow a low carb approach because it is sustainable in the long term once you get used to it. Others (a smaller number) have used very low calorie diets made up of meal replacement shakes and soups to lose a significant amount of weight quickly and have put their Type 2 into remission that way.
Good luck. Ask any questions you have because there are some fantastic people on here who can support you and give suggestions. But now is the time to change for good!
Hello and welcome @debbedy37
Sounds like you're having a scary time.
Like others before me I couldn't imagine a low carb life when first diagnosed. Now although still a carboholic I rarely miss them. I can still find it tricky when eating out but by and large I am fine.
I found that very low carb means I crave them less. I'm pretty much an all or nothing person and would find it harder to have say 80 grams of carbs a day. Like you I'm not the biggest fan of vegetables or salad. You are definitely not alone there
While I want to try and manage on diet alone as long as possible there is no shame in taking insulin or other medication. The really important thing is to manage you levels to prevent further damage.
Take care and good luck.
Sounds like you're having a scary time.
Like others before me I couldn't imagine a low carb life when first diagnosed. Now although still a carboholic I rarely miss them. I can still find it tricky when eating out but by and large I am fine.
I found that very low carb means I crave them less. I'm pretty much an all or nothing person and would find it harder to have say 80 grams of carbs a day. Like you I'm not the biggest fan of vegetables or salad. You are definitely not alone there
While I want to try and manage on diet alone as long as possible there is no shame in taking insulin or other medication. The really important thing is to manage you levels to prevent further damage.
Take care and good luck.
