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Retinopathy!

R

Roseran

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
Bristol
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Getting old
Hi, I haven’t posted before but I follow the discussions here. I would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience to me. I have been diabetic for 8 years, discovered the lchf diet 2 years ago, lost weight, lost fatty liver, increased exercise, reversed diabetes, now off all meds, and became fitter, at 75, than I have been for decades. But, my latest eye check showed background retinopathy!! How does that happen? My diabetes has never been out of control, highest hba1c was 59 and has been falling steadily to 41 at last count. I test every day, even now, and have occasional spikes when I fall off the lchf wagon! I am disappointed to be heading towards this complication after so much success. What more can I do?
 
Worrying for you I'm sure, but don't despair.
This link offers some insight, one of the key phrases being, 'retinopathy can be treated'.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/background-retinopathy.html
It is not uncommon for T1s or T2s, like you, to have some form of background retinopathy.
One big positive is that you are being well monitored and they can keep a close check on you and intervene if necessary.
The other big positive is the way you have tackled your condition for 8 years. Really well done.
 
I've been T2 for one year and when diagnosed my check indicated no sign of retinopathy. Within 3 months of diagnosis my HbA1c was down to 31 and has continued at that level since.

Last week, following a recent eye check up, I received the same news you have had - I now have background retinopathy! How has this happened and could it be down to human interpretation of the picture? Who knows, but I am reassured with stories of people having it one year and then not having it the next.

My goal is to keep the blood sugar in check and as well as the HbA1c result continue to check for spikes on a regular basis.

Forum - if there is anything else we can do please let us know.
 
"background retinopathy" does not mean much, as I understand it, often the next year there will be no retinopathy. "background retinopathy" is mostly recorded on the system as they are trying to see if there is a way to change the eye checks to every 3 years for most people. "background retinopathy" mostly means not to miss your next eye check.
 
I heard sometimes if you drop your bs too fast it may cause retinopathy or make it become worst.Maybe it can be the cause, you can google more about it.
 
Thank you everyone for responding! I feel considerably reassured by all your comments. I will be seeing my diabetic nurse soon, and will discuss it with her. At least I m not dashing off to my gp in a panic thanks to your kind and steadying comments.
 
It is thought that a rapid improvement of diabetic control can sometimes cause diabetic retinopathy to worsen temporarily. However, in the long run the risk of progression is reduced. I would keep working at good diabetic control (including BP and lipids) and just make sure to attend screening every year.
 
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