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Background Retinopathy / Maculopathy

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
chrizla

chrizla

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi All

I'm new to the forum.

I have been T1 for 26 years, and have had reasonable control over this time. In 2019 I had an eye screening and was told I had the beginnings of retinopathy, and that it was nothing to worry about. This year in August, I had a follow up screening and was informed that I was showing signs of maculopathy. I have an appointment with an eye specialist in a couple of weeks to discuss.

I'm concerned that I've gone from showing signs of retinopathy to maculopathy in just under a year, and I am worrying about it. I immediately started to try and improve my blood sugar readings, and I'm now rarely above 7. I've managed to keep this going since I received the notification, but I'm starting to notice that my vision is becoming a little blurry. Naturally I've googled the hell out of this now, and there is evidence to suggest that a sudden improvement in blood sugar / HBA1C can actually have a negative effect on vision temporarily.

I just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience, or can provide some reassurance / advice on what's to come.

Best, Chris
 
Personally I think your a very lucky man to have been diabetic so long and only start showing problems recently, I'm biased though and see everyone without issues as lucky seen as I was diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema less than a month after I was diagnosed which required numerous eylea injections and then proliferative retinopathy requiring lasering to both eyes less than 2 years in, all despite good control

I see you mention "temporarily" unfortunately my issues above were caused by a sudden plummet in hba1c, most however are lucky and develop no issues and things return to normal for them
xx
 
Thanks Kayla. Sorry to hear about your experiences. Hope things are more stable for you now.
 
HI @chrizla - my background retinopathy first appeared after 20+ years too, but as of 2019 it was said to be still only that. So I reckon it's more luck and/or pre-existing tendencies none of us know anything about before they appear as to what we happen to get lumbered with. It is a compelling reason to pretty much guarantee compliance with good BG control though, if nowt else. Hey ho; these things are sent to try us - and they do.

Good luck!
 
Hi @chrizla and welcome 🙂

It is very worrying when you receive a result from screening that requires further investigation but they are on to you quickly and will do everything to monitor and should the need arise treat your maculopathy. I use this site for information and it covers how a rapid drop in HbA1c can perversely increase the rate of retinopathy and also covers potential treatments. http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/diabetic_maculopathy.html

The Anti Vegf eye injections - eg Lucentis, Eylea, Avastin are very effective in treating macula oedema , sometimes there isn't need to treat with either laser or injections and things can settle down on their own.

It is obviously worrying but the treatments if needed are very effective. Wishing you well.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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