• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Vision Problem

mazza 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
248
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Everyone
I wanted to ask a question about my vision and seek your advice. I have been short sighted for many years (although I don't wear my glasses unless I'm driving or watching a good film on tele). I've noticed this last week that my close up vision has got really bad although my distant vision seems to be better. I need a magnifying glass to read labels, which I've never had to do before. I've been on metformin (one a day) for only 9 days. I'm on a LCHF diet which seems to be improving my BG levels, they are mostly under 9 now, which is really good for me as they were 16 and above before I changed my new eating plan for life (unlike a diet, I view it as a positive change, and one that I want to stick with). Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has experience this, blurry vision etc.
Thanking you all in advance, couldn't be doing this without you.
 
There could be one of two reasons, possibly a combination of the two. A change of BG can change your eyesight, often improving distance vision and worsening close vision. At middle age many people develop a need for reading glasses whatever their eyesight has been like previously. My advice would be to get a eye test, let the optician know about your diabetes and don't buy any expensive glasses until your BG has stabilized.
 
Hi @mazza 2 ,

I wouldn't disagree with @Mr_Pot . But in addition. The brain get used to "interpreting" the vision during the prolonged dodgy blood sugars. So when BS improves, it takes a little while to re-adjust ..?

I would make sure blood sugars are as stabilised as much as possible before seeing an optiition for an eye test..
 
Ot os common to have "dodgy vision" when your BG is high for prolonged period.
Our bodies try to get rid of excess sugar through many means like in our pee (hence weeing a lot is a common symptom of diabetes), saliva (which may result in tooth decay) and tears. I remember when I was first diagnosed noticing my tears tasted sweet rather than salty.
Sweet water has a different focal length to salty water which means your eyes may not be able to focus resulting in "dodgy vision".
As your BG comes down, it is likely that your vision will improve.
 
Thanks for your reply's, very helpful. I'm due to see the diabetic nurse next Wednesday. It will be the first time since diagnosed 2 weeks ago, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm assuming she will book me in for an eye test at some stage anyway. Of course, some of it could be middle age and I've haven't noticed because of my diabetes. I'm hoping it will improve and if not I'll have to get reading glasses. On another note, I read on one of the threads that it's not the high BG that causes problems but the fact we are producing too much insulin and the insulin is the problem which gives us more chance of having a stroke or heart attack. I'm confused about this. I thought in type 2 we didn't produce enough insulin. Can someone enlighten me.

Thanks again.
 

Hey! I'm T1 & devoid of any insulin production at all..

However, I notice on your profile that your diet controlled..? Looks like you may produce it. But insulin resistant...?

I'll tag in a few non medded T2s to,say helo & clue you up. @Bluetit1802 @bulkbiker @Brunneria
 
High blood sugars affect the focal length of the lens of the eye. When you start to bring the blood sugars down, it takes a while (days or even weeks) for the glucose levels in the lens to reduce to the same level as the blood. As the lens glucose levels fall, the distance at which objects are in focus changes so new glasses shouldn't be purchased until the lens glucose levels stabilise.
 
The DN should arrange for you to have a retinopathy scan which is a specific eye test for damage to the retina which can result from high blood glucose. This damage doesn't affect your eyesight unless it is prolonged and severe. What you need is normal eye test at a high street optician that you will have to arrange yourself.
 
Type twos start out over producing insulin - which is why so many have weight gain as a symptom - it is not the extra weight which causes type two, but the extra insulin which causes fat storage. It also causes problems with prolonged exercise, as there is no way to get the stores of energy out for use as the insulin is packing them away again as fast as they are produced.
When we go low carb the production of insulin eventually slows down - if we are lucky, and the metabolism gets a bit more balanced the longer things stay low carb.
 
Hi and welcome @mazza 2

Diabetes is a complex thing. There are several different types of D. They include types 1, 2, 1.5 and others. Each results in high blood glucose which can damage the body over time. The high blood glucose can also cause short term symptoms - like your eye focus changes.

However, each type of diabetes also has its own unique symptoms. Type 1s can’t produce insulin, so they inject it. Whereas most type 2s produce a lot of insulin - so much that their own bodies become resistant to the insulin. Especially if they eat a lot of carbohydrate. This means that their insulin levels rise and rise (along with their blood glucose levels). Too much insulin can also cause health problems, although they are different problems from the high blood glucose problems.

Hope that helps.
 
as your just coming down its likely just your eyes adjusting to your altered bg. dont worry it will get back to normal. if its anything else your screening will pick it up. you must consider if at the moment your safe to drive. save money dont go to an optician just yet. mine became very blurred i could not read. then it got better it even got better than it was sadly its back to normal now.
 
Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I'm sure I'll be asking lots more questions. I've got so much to learn and I think it's so important to understand as much about this condition as you can, that way you can take charge of your own health without always thinking the doctors and nurses know best. Thanks once again.
 
Completely agree with your last point about taking control and educating yourself. As for eyes they do do odd things if you have been used to high blood sugar levels so again give it a few weeks before doing anything and if you go for a test tell the optician that you are Type two and fairly recently diagnosed. Once your sugars are back in the "normal" ranges then your eyes should settle down nicely.
 
I was LADA T1 but about 6 weeks before I ended up in hospital I went to the optician because I suddenly couldn't read stuff. They just blamed it on old age..... once on insulin my eyes changed dramatically over 8 weeks before setting down. 6 months later and I'm off to optician today to find out what my prescription is now. It's quite scary when it happens, but normal.
 
Thank you so much for posting such practical information. It was worsening eyesight and painful eyeballs which lead me to get my sugars tested. I'm low carbing and my sugars are coming down. Looks like I should give it a couple more weeks before I get my eyes tested for new glasses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…