Will my eyesight improve?

[Alisonjane10]

Hello folks.
I'm newly diagnosed but have been symptomatic for a long time thinking back. My BG is reducing nicely...thank goodness. However, my eyesight is still rubbish. Is the damage done now or will my eyesight improve as I gain control of my BG? I would like to get my eyes tested & have personal specs rather than the "off the shelf" ones I'm using at the moment. But, if my eyes are likely to improve I'll wait to get spectacles. My BG is between 7 and 11 currently. Can anyone enlighten me a tad. All advice welcome & appreciated.
Alison. X

 

[Mike d]

Hi Alison

MANY people here suggest that if you get your BS under control, your eyes / eyesight will return to normal. Nonetheless, you should have them checked out as soon as you can. Not worth the risk. Those BGs are a little high so if you can work on getting them down and track your eyesight for any changes whilst you're doing it, it will give you an idea of any potential association.

Mike

 

[andcol]

Hi Alison

Well I can say your eyesight will improve but just to let you know what has happened to mine over the last 12 months. I was diagnosed with an HbA1c in the 90s. My eyesight had been getting visibly worse over the previous couple of years to the point I had to give up contact lenses due to sore and itchy eyes constantly (to do with glucose levels). Diagnosed 14 months ago and now I only need glasses for reading (back to how I was 5 years ago. They have slowly improved over the year (well the dry and itchiness stopped as soon as I brought my BG levels between 4-8 (If I push then into the 9s I notice the dryness returning).

Hope this helps - stick with it and bring those levels down further and your eyes may do as mine and improve dramatically. BTW the ophthalmologist says the reading is just age and that probably will not improve.

PS I had so many signs of raised glucose levels but didn't know what to look for.

 

[Alisonjane10]

Hi Alison

MANY people here suggest that if you get your BS under control, your eyes / eyesight will return to normal. Nonetheless, you should have them checked out as soon as you can. Not worth the risk. Those BGs are a little high so if you can work on getting them down and track your eyesight for any changes whilst you're doing it, it will give you an idea of any potential association.

Mike

I'm trying to get my BG below 7 but they're still quite erratic. It's driving me nuts as I sooooo want to get on top of it. I'm eating less than 50g of carbs a day, educating myself & taking diabetic medication. What else should I be doing? It can all be quite disheartening, can't it.
Alison.

 

[Alisonjane10]

Hi Alison

Well I can say your eyesight will improve but just to let you know what has happened to mine over the last 12 months. I was diagnosed with an HbA1c in the 90s. My eyesight had been getting visibly worse over the previous couple of years to the point I had to give up contact lenses due to sore and itchy eyes constantly (to do with glucose levels). Diagnosed 14 months ago and now I only need glasses for reading (back to how I was 5 years ago. They have slowly improved over the year (well the dry and itchiness stopped as soon as I brought my BG levels between 4-8 (If I push then into the 9s I notice the dryness returning).

Hope this helps - stick with it and bring those levels down further and your eyes may do as mine and improve dramatically. BTW the ophthalmologist says the reading is just age and that probably will not improve.

PS I had so many signs of raised glucose levels but didn't know what to look for.

Thank you for telling me your experience Andrew. That's gonna be helpful. I do hope I can get my BG down further, & that it remains steady. Any advice will be received gratefully.
Alison.

 

[Mike d]

I'm trying to get my BG below 7 but they're still quite erratic. It's driving me nuts as I sooooo want to get on top of it. I'm eating less than 50g of carbs a day, educating myself & taking diabetic medication. What else should I be doing? It can all be quite disheartening, can't it.
Alison.

It's a challenge Alison. If the eyesight issue is connected to the diabetes (and almost certainly many would suggest it is) then BS control is important.

Soooo ... back to you .... when were you diagnosed? Any idea of what your readings were prior as against what they are now? Weight control / exercise (if they are relevant to you) are also a factor.

Mike

 

[CarbsRok]

As I understand it, it takes about 8 weeks of steady control before your eyesight settles down after prolonged high blood sugar.

 

[Alisonjane10]

It's a challenge Alison. If the eyesight issue is connected to the diabetes (and almost certainly many would suggest it is) then BS control is important.

Soooo ... back to you .... when were you diagnosed? Any idea of what your readings were prior as against what they are now? Weight control / exercise (if they are relevant to you) are also a factor.

Mike

Hi Mike
I've been symptomatic for ages but didn't connect the dots until I was excessively thirsty and going to the loo 20 times a day. I did a glucose urine test which gave a very high reading, and that's when I realised I probably had Diabetes after which I contacted my GP. My BG was 22.4 when he tested it. I've only been diagnosed for 3 weeks. I was initially prescribed Gliclazide 40mg twice daily. This made no difference in my BG levels at all, so my GP now has me on Gliclazide 160mg twice a day alongside Metformin 500mg also twice a day. So in 3 weeks, I've got my BG down from 22 to between 7 - 11. I know I need to consistently be below 7, and preferably between 4 - 7. This is proving difficult but I guess I'm still learning what I can and can't eat. But I'm hungry. What can I have to eat when I get hungry? What do other people have? I'm losing weight & upping my exercise too.
Alison.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi,

Good to hear you are losing weight. Every bit of weight lost will help with your BS. If you are often hungry, it may well be you aren't eating enough fat. It is a fine balance between lower carbs and higher fat and takes a while to get it right. Fat satiates us, so if the balance is right there is no need to feel hungry. I never have been a snacker as I was never allowed to eat between meals as a child, and quite honestly since going low carb I have never felt hungry. I believe people eat a few nuts or a bit of cheese when they need a snack.

 

[Alisonjane10]

Hi,

Good to hear you are losing weight. Every bit of weight lost will help with your BS. If you are often hungry, it may well be you aren't eating enough fat. It is a fine balance between lower carbs and higher fat and takes a while to get it right. Fat satiates us, so if the balance is right there is no need to feel hungry. I never have been a snacker as I was never allowed to eat between meals as a child, and quite honestly since going low carb I have never felt hungry. I believe people eat a few nuts or a bit of cheese when they need a snack.

Oh, that's a good idea. I like both. I just like food to be honest. Lol. But hey, I gotta make wise food choices and knuckle down to the low carb programme I follow. I'm used to snacking on fruit before diagnosis so I'm still working out what I can have to replace this without by BG going into orbit. But boy, I'm craving a bag of cheesy Wotsits. I won't have em though. I know my life can never be the same again & if I don't want to experience awful complications I've got to embrace the change. I don't have to like it though! Guess it gets easier. X

 

[andcol]

Hi Mike
I've been symptomatic for ages but didn't connect the dots until I was excessively thirsty and going to the loo 20 times a day. I did a glucose urine test which gave a very high reading, and that's when I realised I probably had Diabetes after which I contacted my GP. My BG was 22.4 when he tested it. I've only been diagnosed for 3 weeks. I was initially prescribed Gliclazide 40mg twice daily. This made no difference in my BG levels at all, so my GP now has me on Gliclazide 160mg twice a day alongside Metformin 500mg also twice a day. So in 3 weeks, I've got my BG down from 22 to between 7 - 11. I know I need to consistently be below 7, and preferably between 4 - 7. This is proving difficult but I guess I'm still learning what I can and can't eat. But I'm hungry. What can I have to eat when I get hungry? What do other people have? I'm losing weight & upping my exercise too.
Alison.

nuts are great

 

[Bluetit1802]

Oh, that's a good idea. I like both. I just like food to be honest. Lol. But hey, I gotta make wise food choices and knuckle down to the low carb programme I follow. I'm used to snacking on fruit before diagnosis so I'm still working out what I can have to replace this without by BG going into orbit. But boy, I'm craving a bag of cheesy Wotsits. I won't have em though. I know my life can never be the same again & if I don't want to experience awful complications I've got to embrace the change. I don't have to like it though! Guess it gets easier. X

It does get easier, I promise you. If you are genuinely eating only 50g carbs a day, and with the meds you are on, you should be seeing an improvement. Keep at it, and if we can help at all, just shout.

 

[Mike d]

Hi Mike
I've been symptomatic for ages but didn't connect the dots until I was excessively thirsty and going to the loo 20 times a day. I did a glucose urine test which gave a very high reading, and that's when I realised I probably had Diabetes after which I contacted my GP. My BG was 22.4 when he tested it. I've only been diagnosed for 3 weeks. I was initially prescribed Gliclazide 40mg twice daily. This made no difference in my BG levels at all, so my GP now has me on Gliclazide 160mg twice a day alongside Metformin 500mg also twice a day. So in 3 weeks, I've got my BG down from 22 to between 7 - 11. I know I need to consistently be below 7, and preferably between 4 - 7. This is proving difficult but I guess I'm still learning what I can and can't eat. But I'm hungry. What can I have to eat when I get hungry? What do other people have? I'm losing weight & upping my exercise too.
Alison.

You have good advice already ... so I will bow out ...... take care

Mike

 

[Alisonjane10]

nuts are great[/QUOTE

Oooo errr! I'll try some almonds & walnuts. Darn it for the cheesy wotsits.

 

[andcol]

yep definitely not cheesy wotsits. However, nothing wrong with a chunk of cheese

 

[Alisonjane10]

Thank you very much for the advice folks. It really is appreciated.

 

[Mike d]

You deserve nothing less