Background Retinopathy

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LyndaB

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Type 2
Hi , I’ve just joined the forum.

I’ve been borderline diabetic for a number of years and in July this year I was diagnosed with diabetes . My 1st blood test showed an A1c of 52 . My second,11 days later, after emergency low carb dieting was 48. Not quite enough . Over the last three months my A1c has reduced to 43. Hope I can sustain the low carb way of eating to further reduce and keep my blood sugar under control .

What has knocked me for six this week, however, is the result of my Diabetic Eye Screening Test . I suppose as my blood glucose wasn’t very high, I hoped my eyesight hadn’t been affected but I’ve been told in a letter I have background retinopathy as a result of diabetes. . Whilst I’ve read this is common, and realise it’s the early stage of more serious sight conditions, online information seems to indicate that even if I do everything right ,keep blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol all well under control, loose weight and exercise regularly , it could still progress. Has anyone any advice/information that could help me please? Can I reverse this background retinopathy ?
 
There are a number of threads about this and the minor background retinopathy is really like a very small cut or bruise on the rest of your body. Usually it will heal itself and within a few weeks you can't see where it was and many people find it has disappeared by the following year.
It may be that the sudden introduction of a low carb diet has affected your BG or perhaps lowered your BP and this sudden change has caused a very slight bleed. Once your levels are stable and mostly in range there is a good chance that it will resolve itself and you will get the all clear next time. It is certainly not a given that this is the start of a progressive decline by any means. I had one of those letters 2 years ago but my last one was all clear and many other people here have had the same experience, so please don't worry about this. By all means do your best with your diet and exercise, but try to put this to the back of your mind and hopefully you will get the all clear next year too. It really is an incredibly minor issue..... unless they have said that they want to see you in clinic for further tests straight away. The key thing to look for is that your recall is in 12 months or more and that tells you that it is really really minor.
 
LyndaB said:
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. More informative than anything I‘ve been able to find online. you have really put my mind at rest. Thank you .
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This has happened to many people including me and the next screening come up as clear so hopefully that will be the case for you.
You were just over the diabetes threshold so have done well to bring it back down. If you are interested in following a low carb regime which indeed many find successful then this link may give you some more idea for meals, there are menu plans for various tastes and budgets. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Thank you the link is really helpful . I’m very strict with my carbs at the moment but when I’ve lost another two stone ish, I may look to ease up a little and see how that impacts my BG.
 
rebrascora said:
The key thing to look for is that your recall is in 12 months or more and that tells you that it is really really minor.
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That's what I do. While the wording on the letters is a bit disturbing, you get used to it and just look for the "see you in 12 months" bit. I've had background retinopathy since (I suspect, anyway, since testing was different back then) the 1980s (or maybe the 1990s). Once I had a check in only 6 months (indicating it had got worse) but that was exceptional (I'd had a brain tumour which affected blood glucose and blood pressure) but otherwise it's been once a year, with no intervention required.

It used to be thought that it's inevitable given enough time and inevitably progressive but that's no longer believed.

There is an element of chance (and/or genetics) so some people who don't have diabetes with get retinopathy and some people with high blood pressure and poorly controlled diabetes won't.
 
LyndaB said:
Thank you . It’s all a bit frightening at first so I’m reassured by and do appreciate the responses.
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Sorry to hear you’ve had one of those letters. I suppose they have to be clear about the risks involved - but I really wish they could find a way to express it without scaring the heebie jeebies out of people!

Hopefully you’ll be able to halt any potential progress, or possibly get an all clear at your next screening appointment in a year’s time.
 
LyndaB said:
Thank you the link is really helpful . I’m very strict with my carbs at the moment but when I’ve lost another two stone ish, I may look to ease up a little and see how that impacts my BG.
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Hi @LyndaB and welcome to the forum.
I'm another person (in remission for over 3yrs now) who's had one of 'those' letters and was all clear the next year.

The reason for me posting is just to say: Forget about weight!
What matters is your Blood Glucose numbers. It's the insulin resistance bringing about T2D that often causes the weight gain, so get the T2D in remission and that will usually take care of the weight.

Also, don't ty to gauge how many carbohydrates you can eat based upon your weight - base it on your BG numbers.

What we call 'eating to your meter'. You can trust your meter to be your own personal expert on your diabetes in your body.
Which is different from my diabetes in my body - or anyone else's.
 
LyndaB said:
Hi , I’ve just joined the forum.

I’ve been borderline diabetic for a number of years and in July this year I was diagnosed with diabetes . My 1st blood test showed an A1c of 52 . My second,11 days later, after emergency low carb dieting was 48. Not quite enough . Over the last three months my A1c has reduced to 43. Hope I can sustain the low carb way of eating to further reduce and keep my blood sugar under control .

What has knocked me for six this week, however, is the result of my Diabetic Eye Screening Test . I suppose as my blood glucose wasn’t very high, I hoped my eyesight hadn’t been affected but I’ve been told in a letter I have background retinopathy as a result of diabetes. . Whilst I’ve read this is common, and realise it’s the early stage of more serious sight conditions, online information seems to indicate that even if I do everything right ,keep blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol all well under control, loose weight and exercise regularly , it could still progress. Has anyone any advice/information that could help me please? Can I reverse this background retinopathy ?
Click to expand...
Don't fret about it - I had background retinopathy when I had my first check. By the second one it had gone and I have had no trouble since.
I do tend to keep my intake of carbs low, but it isn't all that difficult once you get into the swing of it and sort out a good range of different meals to enjoy throughout the week. I did use a blood glucose meter to check my after eating levels were not going high, and by chance realised that I can extract more carbs from beans and peas than they are supposed to contain, so I eat only half portions to prevent spikes.
 
Thank you all for the further comments. This is a great forum and I’m so glad I found you. When you start the journey of discovery about diabetes, to be able to ask someone who can relate to your concerns, know what you are talking about and how you feel is priceless. Thank you for taking the time to respond x
 
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