Retinopathy

I've been T1 for 50 years (since I was 8) and have had on again off again mild background retinopathy for decades. I remember being told in my 20s that I'd need laser treatment in my 30s or 40s but still haven't had any, and my condition would have to deteriorate a couple of levels for anyone to give me treatment. Better control reduces it for me, and I was promised recently (possibly rashly) by my endocrinologist that I wasn't going to go blind, lose my kidneys, a leg, etc etc.

My recommendation would be not to panic, but use the condition as an indication that you need to tighten your control.

 

Hi @JamieTwigg I especially agree with @EllieM 's remark about better control. I had several doses of very primitive laser treatment between 1979 and 1983. Because I took advice seriously, I have had nothing done since and have been able to do all the things you mention. Obviously, because of scarring I would not attempt something like making Swiss watches, but most jobs are open to me. I wouldn't worry about the future. Provided you keep the best control you can, you might avoid treatment entirely. I often think about smokers who have died in their 90's and confounded all predictions. It underlines how different we all are and cannot therefore be compartmentalised. Have a long troublefree life!

 

Most of us have background retinopathy at some stage. Isolated aneurysms that usually disappear if control is good. Retinopathy is only a problem if it becomes proliferative. Because of blockages, new blood vessels are formed. They are fragile and when they burst, treatment is required. During my 43 years of T1, there have been some aneurysms, but they are all gone now. Some people seem to get get proliferative retinopathy in spite of maintaining good control, but we can only do our best.