Experiencing epic fail (or put another way, eye question)

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
Well, I finally got a letter I hoped never to get. "...there have been diabetic changes to your eye(s). ... eye clinic to see a specialist eye doctor". :shock:

So anyone else been told to attend said doctor and then been told "you'll be fine"?

P.S. Hi, I'm back. :twisted:
 

caroluk

Active Member
Messages
30
Hiya

I'm new here only diagnosed 4 weeks ago though i did have gestational diabetes when pregnant.

My Mum was also diagnosed type 2 over a year ago, treated by diet and hasnt been given a monitor to test etc her first eye test results where fine but she had her second test 3 weeks ago and received her letter last week saying diabetic changes.

She recevied an app Friday and she goes this coming Thursday so i will let you kno what they say.

What is annoying is that though diagnosed she has been virtually left to it and maybe if she had of been given a tester she could have prevented any eye problems by keeping a good check on her blood sugars.

Carol x
 

hanadr

Expert
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8,157
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soaps on telly and people talking about the characters as if they were real.
T1 husband has had both retinas lasered a couple of times and cataracts removed from both of them. He had a bleed in one eye a few weeks back, which hasn't quite cleared, but he still qualifies for his driving license, although won't drive at night!
 

Trinkwasser

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,468
lionrampant said:
No knowledgeable souls? Alright then...

Not until you've been there and been told what they have actually found.

http://www.macular-degeneration-vitamins.com/index.htm

You can get most of these bioflavinoids and antioxidants from your diet and they will also help against other diabetic damage, that and BG control can help avoid or limit problems.

But until they tell you what they have found, cataracts, retinal damage, AMD, it's impossible to be more specific.
 

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
I've been taking strong multivitamins for about a year now (mainly since reading about the amount of vits we diabetics lose). I may switch to more focused stuff if they say it's something specific.

Thanks for the replies guys.
 

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
Oh ******. My right eye's been a little blurry this morning (not last night), and won't clear up. :?

And yet I still wait to hear of any potential appointment...
 

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
Two things Lion:

Start to do bg tests 6 times a day and get your bolus/basal better sorted so that you are no higher than 5 before a main meal and no higher than 8 two hours later. I know its easier said than done but if you use carb accordingly and maybe eat a small snack in between meals its not too difficult.

If you havent already got some, get yourself some 100mg thiamine vitamine B1 tablets and start to take them. There's quite a lot of info on the web now about thiamine and retinopathy.

I hope that you dont need laser treatment on your eyes and that by better balanced bg levels and thiamine will repair any damage as it did for me last year.
 

LittleSue

Well-Known Member
Messages
647
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I was referred to the eye hospital a few years back following "something" showing up on annual screening. Specialist said nothing actively going on now, was probably a one-off, no treatment, just come back in 3 months. Next time all trace had gone and no new signs so was discharged with usual advice to maintain good control.

Which was ironic since this was after hospital cockups made me wait 15 months for a continuous monitor. Worried I was (again) sleeping through hypos but was firmly told not to test during the night! Repeatedly told monitor would be very soon and not to alter basal before then either. Was actually running high all night, which I'd have known and addressed if I'd tested. Later emerged they had no DSNs trained in use of continous monitor all that time... consultant's grovelling apology was all very well but did not undo my raised HbA1c.. would've been really angry if needed laser treatment as a result of their expert advice!
 

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
Thanks both of you. My main concern here was that this was damage already done - but a few hours of research did indicate there are other possibilities. And although I don't want to jump the gun, my eyes seem to have returned to some form of normality - although there is still a light blurring in areas on my right.

iHs: I think if I test any more I'll bankrupt NHS Scotland! :lol: I'm quite obsessive, and after sorting my insulin on my last vsit HbA1c was down by almost 2% from my previous visit (that was only about four to six months). Good advice for anyone though.

LittleSue: Good to know it can go like that. Let's hope they just tell me to sod off ;).
 

iHs

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Messages
4,595
Ahhh right I understand now.

Because youve now made your hba1c drop down a fair bit, you may well be on the receiving end of small leakage behind the back of your eye. Not to worry too much, with time the blood vessel damage will most likely heal on its own accord.

Do look into getting thiamine though.
 

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
iHs said:
Ahhh right I understand now.

Because youve now made your hba1c drop down a fair bit, you may well be on the receiving end of small leakage behind the back of your eye. Not to worry too much, with time the blood vessel damage will most likely heal on its own accord.

Do look into getting thiamine though.


Ah, excellent. And I'll have a gander.
 

Jem

Well-Known Member
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570
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People that feel just because diabates is a life-threatening "illness" it should be treated with kid gloves and nobody is allowed to have a laugh. My humour got me through abuse, near death experiences, serious and debilitating illnesses and lifelong pain and deformity - why give up the thing that works??
colourful veg such as sweet peppers will defo help :) oh and the odd carrot :)