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Diagnosed 2 weeks ago..on Metformin, low carb but eyes blurred! Worried

B

Batul

Active Member
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Hi everyone.

So glad I've found this space.

Huge wake up call. Diagnosed 2 weeks ago 105, so very high. Taking the metformin, increased to 2 in second week and will discuss more with diabetes nurse tomorrow. I'm vegetarian and have switched to low carb diet and have lost weight in 2 weeks.

Can I ask, have people suffered with blurred vision after taking metformin, is this to with blood sugars dropping/changing after meds and does this settle down...I'm getting quite scared.

Thanks all
 
If you use the Search function at the top right of every page, you will see that blurred vision is common when first diagnosed.
As our bodies attempt to get rid of excess glucose, it is pumped out everywhere including in our tears. The focal length of sugary water is different to that of salty water so our lenses adapt. Because type 2 usually comes on slowly, our eyes slowly adapt and we don't notice until we reduce our blood sugars, our body doesn't have to get rid of the excess glucose and our eyes need to adapt back again. Until they do so, we have blurred vision.

For this reason it is not recommended to pay for expensive prescription glasses at this time. Many people buy cheap ready readers to tide them over.

I am sure you want to know how long this will last. Unfortunately, we are all different so there is no one answer fits all.
 
In Response said:
If you use the Search function at the top right of every page, you will see that blurred vision is common when first diagnosed.
As our bodies attempt to get rid of excess glucose, it is pumped out everywhere including in our tears. The focal length of sugary water is different to that of salty water so our lenses adapt. Because type 2 usually comes on slowly, our eyes slowly adapt and we don't notice until we reduce our blood sugars, our body doesn't have to get rid of the excess glucose and our eyes need to adapt back again. Until they do so, we have blurred vision.

For this reason it is not recommended to pay for expensive prescription glasses at this time. Many people buy cheap ready readers to tide them over.

I am sure you want to know how long this will last. Unfortunately, we are all different so there is no one answer fits all.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, that's really helpful and has alleviated my anxiety. I've just bought some cheap readers and hope the blurred vision settles soon.
 
Batul said:
Hi everyone.

So glad I've found this space.

Huge wake up call. Diagnosed 2 weeks ago 105, so very high. Taking the metformin, increased to 2 in second week and will discuss more with diabetes nurse tomorrow. I'm vegetarian and have switched to low carb diet and have lost weight in 2 weeks.

Can I ask, have people suffered with blurred vision after taking metformin, is this to with blood sugars dropping/changing after meds and does this settle down...I'm getting quite scared.

Thanks all
Click to expand...

Is your BG coming down? Just be aware that it is possible to be misdiagnosed T2 so if your BG doesn't decrease and you continue to lose weight then go back to the nurse sooner rather than later in case you are an undiagnosed T1.

Blurred vision will sort itself out. It was the first indication something wasn't right with me but the optician put it down to the fact I hadn't had an eye test for 2 years. Fortunately I didn't buy a new pair of glasses because I had a suspicion there was something else wrong
 
Circuspony said:
Is your BG coming down? Just be aware that it is possible to be misdiagnosed T2 so if your BG doesn't decrease and you continue to lose weight then go back to the nurse sooner rather than later in case you are an undiagnosed T1.

Blurred vision will sort itself out. It was the first indication something wasn't right with me but the optician put it down to the fact I hadn't had an eye test for 2 years. Fortunately I didn't buy a new pair of glasses because I had a suspicion there was something else wrong
Click to expand...
Thank you, it's a bit hit and miss but I'm still getting used to it all, hopefully things will start to level off soon. I saw the DN this morning and didn't really comment on the vision, it's all a bit disorienting and affecting my mood so much. Hopefully within a few days my eyes will adjust. Thank you again.
 
Thanks Brekkie, I've bought some +2.25 readers for close up and find they help.

My original prescription has become better for distance. I've read this can happen and then they revert back...taking each day as it comes as my anxiety levels are high.

I'm not driving at the moment until things settle.

I'm low carbing and BS levels are improving as I test.

I keep reading success stories on this site which help.
 
Batul said:
Hi everyone.

So glad I've found this space.

Huge wake up call. Diagnosed 2 weeks ago 105, so very high. Taking the metformin, increased to 2 in second week and will discuss more with diabetes nurse tomorrow. I'm vegetarian and have switched to low carb diet and have lost weight in 2 weeks.

Can I ask, have people suffered with blurred vision after taking metformin, is this to with blood sugars dropping/changing after meds and does this settle down...I'm getting quite scared.

Thanks all
Click to expand...
Hi, can I just say that I've been on Metformin with no set backs for several years BUT ... could it be reducing your carbs that has affected your eyes? I ask because this happened to me last year, after I decided enough was enough was enough and I WAS going to go into non-diabetic numbers. Over a seven week period I drastically reduced all carbs, lost 18lbs in weight and my blood glucose level came down from 68 to 37 (right out of the diabetic range) But my eyes went very blurred. The left one is still blurred 12 months later.
 
coby said:
Hi, can I just say that I've been on Metformin with no set backs for several years BUT ... could it be reducing your carbs that has affected your eyes? I ask because this happened to me last year, after I decided enough was enough was enough and I WAS going to go into non-diabetic numbers. Over a seven week period I drastically reduced all carbs, lost 18lbs in weight and my blood glucose level came down from 68 to 37 (right out of the diabetic range) But my eyes went very blurred. The left one is still blurred 12 months later.
Click to expand...
Thanks Coby, I've decided to come off the SR metformin as it was giving me they bad tummy troubles and am sticking to the low carb. I've lost nearly 12lbs in weight and BS levels have dropped considerably. I started at 17 stone. My anxiety levels remain high about my eyesight but am comforted by reading about people who post things did eventually clear for them. Keep swapping over several strengths of readers each day!

I know it will change, I need to keep reminding myself of that.

Great news on your weight loss.
 
Ronancastled said:
Common wisdom is 6-8 weeks to flush the excess glucose from your eyeballs.
It's scary but a sign things are working
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Thank you, I know it will resolve itself but it is very scary, I keep crying which doesn't help...but it's all for the greater good. I'm doing the right things and very focused on vegetarian LCHF.
 
You are doing REALLY well! Hold your nerve, stick with what you know is giving you good results, and your improvements will continue. Your eyes should settle down soon, too - mine did.
 
Outlier said:
You are doing REALLY well! Hold your nerve, stick with what you know is giving you good results, and your improvements will continue. Your eyes should settle down soon, too - mine did.
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Thank you for your encouragement. I'm digging deep. This community really is quite amazing and I keep telling myself how different my eyes should feel in a few weeks. I've never had anxiety issues so just working through that is exhausting. Again thank you Outlier.
 
coby said:
Hi, can I just say that I've been on Metformin with no set backs for several years BUT ... could it be reducing your carbs that has affected your eyes? I ask because this happened to me last year, after I decided enough was enough was enough and I WAS going to go into non-diabetic numbers. Over a seven week period I drastically reduced all carbs, lost 18lbs in weight and my blood glucose level came down from 68 to 37 (right out of the diabetic range) But my eyes went very blurred. The left one is still blurred 12 months later.
Click to expand...

Can I ask if you’ve had your diabetic eye test, the one where they scan the back of your eye? Elevated sugars for longer periods can cause retinopathy, so if you’ve not had this done, I’d suggest you book a scan asap with your optician. I think Specsavers were doing it for around £10 with an eye test. I’m in Scotland, so this might be different where you are. You ‘should’ be having this done annually, but with Covid, a lot of checks have been sidelined.
 
Zilsniggy said:
Can I ask if you’ve had your diabetic eye test, the one where they scan the back of your eye? Elevated sugars for longer periods can cause retinopathy, so if you’ve not had this done, I’d suggest you book a scan asap with your optician. I think Specsavers were doing it for around £10 with an eye test. I’m in Scotland, so this might be different where you are. You ‘should’ be having this done annually, but with Covid, a lot of checks have been sidelined.
Click to expand...
Hi, yes my diabetes was diagnosed in 2016 after my vision suddenly went perfect and I no longer needed to wear my glasses to read even tiny print! Of course that did't last ( maybe about 5 days or so. I have regular eye scans, and when the blurring first occurred it was found that the occular pressure in the worst eye (blurring-wise) was 28 and in the other eye was only 18. This has never happened before .. only from my going out of diabetic numbers!
 
Batul said:
Thanks Coby, I've decided to come off the SR metformin as it was giving me they bad tummy troubles and am sticking to the low carb. I've lost nearly 12lbs in weight and BS levels have dropped considerably. I started at 17 stone. My anxiety levels remain high about my eyesight but am comforted by reading about people who post things did eventually clear for them. Keep swapping over several strengths of readers each day!

I know it will change, I need to keep reminding myself of that.

Great news on your weight loss.
Click to expand...
Exactly @Batul Obviously in my case, with the eyes, there was something already there that was exaggerated by the sudden change in the amount of sugar circulating in my eyes/system. I have now been referred for a procedure at outpatients to bring down the pressure in the left eye, so hopefully it will restore my sight somewhat :)
 
Thanks Coby, I'm sure it will get resolved for you at outpatients. I'm sorry you've had so much trouble with it.
 
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