Some background retinopathy after 7 years

[corbanwolf]

Hi all

I have been diagnosed 7 years ago in December. I had my ups and downs with managing blood glucose levels. Generally I would say they were quite ok. I never ended up in hospital in coma because of mismanagement. But today I have received a result of latest eye screening and I am shocked. They detected some background retinopathy. I tried to search online about how long does it take for first test to be at stage 1 and couldn't find much information. How long did it take you to reach some background retinopathy since diabetes type 1 diagnosis? Also share your thoughts and your feelings about your situations.

 

[Rachox]

I have been type 2 since 2017 so have had 7 retinal screenings, out of those I’ve had two which showed background retinopathy the second and the fifth ones. What I’m saying is just because you have it now it’s not downhill from here on in, next year’s test could be clear again.

 

[EllieM]

I've been T1 for 53 years, and have had on again off again background retinopathy for decades. I remember being told in my twenties that I'd probably need lasar treatment by my 40s? Still haven't had any....

I've generally used the "on again" times to motivate me to tighten up on my diabetic control. The eye tests are there to help us keep our eyesight and I'm grateful to have them. Diabetic eye care has improved dramatically over the last 50 years and I trust the eye specialists to treat me as and when I need it. My job is to try to keep my levels steady, as best I can.

Having said that my eyesight is definitely worse than it was in my youth but I'm hopeful that it'll last me out. It's on the list with other diabetic complications that I worry about getting.

(I love my cgm. While my levels are nowhere near as controlled as some of the folk who post on here they are running better than earlier periods of my life so hope that I can keep the complications mostly at bay.)

 

[ATB123]

I have been type 2 since 2017 so have had 7 retinal screenings, out of those I’ve had two which showed background retinopathy the second and the fifth ones. What I’m saying is just because you have it now it’s not downhill from here on in, next year’s test could be clear again.

That's interesting I didn't realise it could disappear. I was also diagnosed in 2017 (T2) had 3 years of good control then 4 really bad years reaching a tipping point late summer last year. Now rediagnosed (T1 LADA) and on basal bolus and just praying that this years test (due April) won't show any retinopathy. But from what you've said, I won't panic if there is some there, I am fully expecting to see some problems thanks to my horrendous control. Slowly getting there now and hoping next hba1c is much better.