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Eye screening results

Riri

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,174
Location
Mid Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The conservative party, people who are cruel to animals and aggressive people
I guess I've always expected it and also dreaded the letter Ive just received saying that I have mild background retinopathy in left eye. No action needed at present.
Can someone advise me whether or not this is reversible. Quite ironic as my last HBA1c at 6.5 and the 2 previous ones have been the best but I guess it's something that progresses over time. Well, I intend to keep that HBA1c going and hope that it doesn't get worse. String cup of tea needed.
 
I had the same letter last year,
went for mine last weds and letter came Saturday saying my eyes are normal this time ,so yes it can be undone
 
it can be made good........

your eye will try and heal the tiny leaks, and if you can keep a steady blood sugar and normal BP the new veins can become strong......

the process of eye screening isn't that scientific, its quite crude really, but its all about taking extra precaution and trying to envisage problems. I have had retinopathy for years now and last year I had maculopathy........or at least suspected, I was sent to the hospital ophthalmologist and then all was well.......back to once a year screenings........

Its normal for a long term diabetic to have some changes going on.....
 
Thanks everyone. Feel better now after reading the positive replies
 
I have had this for over 10 years and it has not deteriorated in that period. Saying that you must keep your levels under control. It is very normal for most long term T1's to get this.
 
After diagnosis two year ago, I had the equivalent letter. A year letter the letter came back that I was free of retinopathy.

However, I get a far more thorough consultation from visiting my optometrist where no eye drops are needed for the examination.
 
I had the same letter on Saturday , knew it would someday come but still cried my eye's out all day. Having seen quite a few posts on how it can either be stopped or not progressed, I'm hopeful. Sending diabetic consolation x
 
Hi, when I was first diagnosed with T2 my letter came back positive, however, after surfing the net I discovered the recommendation that if I ate a cupful of blueberries a day then I could cure the rentinopathy in six months, so I stuck to this and sure enough when I went for my second eye test my eyes were free from it and 5 years on they have remained that way. I sometimes buy frozen blueberries if the fresh ones are not around so that I can continue to eat a cupful of them every day. Hope you will find this useful. x
 
Thanks again everyone. I will try and stay upbeat - I'm a born worrier so no doubt this will inevitably play on my mind even when I don't think I'm thinking about it!! Mooshk - as we have had the same letter at the same time we will put on out diabetic superwoman gear and vow to stop/reverse this Sending Diabetic superpower back x
 
Just do what your doing Riri and keep your bg levels under control, if your bp is high or borderline you should discuss with your gp about going on meds as high bp can make diabetic retinopathy worse........as does high cholesterol I believe.

Without getting your hopes up, I read an article last year that somewhere around 50-60% of people who get told they have early changes in the eyes don't progress any further, so just try and stay positive and do keep to your eye screening appointments as they will monitor your eyes more closely from here on.
 
I know that fear - after 25 years I had the background retinopathy in one eye letter too and I cried (still do when I think about it) - HBA1cs have always been under 7.5, mostly in the 6s so a bit gutted as I have tried really hard and sight is something I would really rather keep! So I am hopeful that with even tighter control and a pump I can do my damnedest to continue to get through life as unscarred by this illness as possible.


Novorapidboi26
Is the macular stuff related to diabetes too? It may just be my paranoia after the retinopathy letter, and probably for the last couple of years I have noticed more 'floaters' and mention it every time I go to the opticians and they check and say my eyes look good...so I don't know whether I am over sensitive about it or should push a bit more. I seem to basically constantly have those floaty little things in my vision - they are not big and don't stop me seeing things, just I am drawn to concentrating on them, especially when the sun comes out and then it worries me!
 
Yes definitely have to keep the well behaved diabetic hat on xx
 
It is definitely reversible if you improve your control. I reversed mine. The standard warning with retinopathy is not to drop your average blood glucose radically, but with a steady reduction in average blood glucose you will be in good shape. Consider it a helpful warning that you got this result.
 
Pre pump my highest ever HBA1c was 8.9 (mostly mid to high 7s before some personal problems causing the >8) and post pump it's come down from 8.2 to 7.6, 7.4 and 6.5 over a period of 2 and a half years so I'm hopeful this isn't considered a radical reduction. I'll keep going and hope this works although I've now read of others who have had tighter control and have still developed retinopathy so other factors e.g. Blood pressure etc must also come in to play. Thanks for the advice - it really helps.
 
Hi. Not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this..
I've been using insulin pump since the early 2000 but the last year I've been struggling. It seems that I rip out the "needle" from my stomach while I sleep, so when I wake up my blood glucose levels are sky rocket high. Anyone else struggling with the same problem? Cheers.
P.S im changing needle and location every 2-3 days.
 
Maybe post under the Insulin Pump Forum. This thread is about eye screening results so that's rather off topic !

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

I would say 8.2 to 6.5 over a two year period is fine Riri and no cause for concern regarding your retinopathy, the sudden tightening of bg control that they refer to would be if you did the same say over a 6 month period.

I would say you've seen the following posted 100's of times on the forum, however it is the best website when it comes to information and advice regarding diabetic retinopathy:

http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/Information_for_patients.html
 
I had background retinopathy for about 3 years. It went when my HbA1c went from the mid-7s to the low-6s, over a period of 6 months to a year.
 
Did it disappear then SamJB?
 
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