Diabetic Retinopathy with controlled BG

[MarionGrassie]

Hi, I am a 56 year old woman and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 2 1/2 years ago. My HbA1c was 46 at that time, and has gradually come down to 37 at my last test. I’ve been told that this is excellent control. I regularly fast and follow a low carb way of eating between times, with only occasional days off. I have also lost 5 stone through doing this.
So I was surprised and a little upset today to receive a letter saying my latest test showed signs of mild diabetic retinopathy.
I thought this was brought on as a result of ‘prolonged high blood glucose levels’ (quote from this site) so I don’t understand why I have it or what else I can do to prevent it escalating.
I don’t smoke. I don’t take diabetic medication. My BP & cholesterol are fine. What am I not doing right? Any help welcome, thanks.

 

[Dark Horse]

The problem with type 2 diabetes is that it is slow onset - you may have had raised glucose levels for years before you were diagnosed and some mild damage may have already occurred before you brought your HbA1c down. It's unfortunate but some people get retinopathy despite quite good control. Background retinopathy does not affect your sight and does not need treating. Keeping your HbA1c and BP low is the best way to avoid progression - some people find that after a few years of very good control, the background retinopathy 'disappears'.

 

[sally and james]

@MarionGrassie Keep doing what you are doing. Mild retinopathy seems to show up on one test, then not on the next one. From my husband's experience, I can report that quite serious retinopathy can reverse and healing take place, once you are on a low carb diet and keeping your sugars in the normal range. Don't panic and carry on.
Sally

 

[himtoo]

Hi @MarionGrassie
welcome to the forum.
I agree with what has been posted -- you could have been undiagnosed for a long while -- so carrying on with what you are doing now is best course of action IMO.

( i am type 1 so my diagnosis path is totally different) --( but I have been diagnosed with retinopathy for over 27 years now and I can still see )

hugs [[hugs]] -- try to keep the faith of what you are doing

xx

 

[Daphne917]

Hi, I am a 56 year old woman and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 2 1/2 years ago. My HbA1c was 46 at that time, and has gradually come down to 37 at my last test. I’ve been told that this is excellent control. I regularly fast and follow a low carb way of eating between times, with only occasional days off. I have also lost 5 stone through doing this.
So I was surprised and a little upset today to receive a letter saying my latest test showed signs of mild diabetic retinopathy.
I thought this was brought on as a result of ‘prolonged high blood glucose levels’ (quote from this site) so I don’t understand why I have it or what else I can do to prevent it escalating.
I don’t smoke. I don’t take diabetic medication. My BP & cholesterol are fine. What am I not doing right? Any help welcome, thanks.

My hba1c has been in the 30s for the last 4 years but I always have a letter telling me that I have some background retinopathy. I was told by the person doing the scan that it wasn’t anything to worry about

 

[MarionGrassie]

Thank you all for your advice and reassurance. Much appreciated.
Re length of time undiagnosed - my doctor told me (on diagnosis) that I hadn’t had it long. Also I know that a test for diabetes 2 years earlier didn’t even show pre-diabetes so I think it must’ve escalated quickly.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[Alison Campbell]

Can I ask how you were diagnosed? I though the point for diagnosis was at least HBA1C of 48.

 

[MarionGrassie]

Can I ask how you were diagnosed? I though the point for diagnosis was at least HBA1C of 48.

Hi Alison. I was diagnosed after 2 fasting glucose tests recorded 7.4, then 7.3. I asked if I needed an oral glucose tolerance test to confirm but I was told the 2 fasting tests were enough. I know the level for diagnosis by HbA1c is higher than my level so I queried it myself. I was told that HbA1c was not reliable for diagnosis.
So, going purely by HbA1c, I’ve never actually been into diabetes levels.

 

[Alison Campbell]

It make more sense to me that fasting is not the reliable one although I've had all 3 lab tests.

I was reading that some prediabetics are experiancing signs of microvascular complications so I don't that it is prolonged high levels that cause neuropathy or retinopathy.

Still I hope things improve for you and it's all clear next year reflecting your excellent control.

 

[MarionGrassie]

It make more sense to me that fasting is not the reliable one although I've had all 3 lab tests.

I was reading that some prediabetics are experiancing signs of microvascular complications so I don't that it is prolonged high levels that cause neuropathy or retinopathy.

Still I hope things improve for you and it's all clear next year reflecting your excellent control.

Thank you