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Eyesight change

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Grogg1

Grogg1

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I had been reading about not getting new glasses etc. when first diagnosed so cancelled my 2 yearly appt.

I am mildly short sighted and wear glasses for driving and TV. My reading sight is starting to go with age so I need a good light.

On Thursday in work I noticed I was struggling to read what I normally can. Then today I just put on my TV glasses and it was blurry. Without them the TV text running along the bottom of the news is perfectly clear!!

I know it won't last and will probably return to normal but it has literally just happed today.

Does this mean my blood sugars are more stable. I know they are lower but I'm only on day 9 of taking Metforim - due to double dose to 2 tablets a day today.
 
Hi, If your BGs have been high for a while then suddenly start dropping this can happen. Within a few days of me going onto a background (basal) insulin my eyesight got worse, it did sort itself out after a week or two as I hope it will for a you. it's worrying when it happens though isn't it.
 
Hi Grogg , I read your post and could have written it myself! I was diagnosed three weeks ago and started metformin too. Likewise wore glasses for distance but up close was fine. I too noticed I could read the information strip on the telly from a distance but my close up is so blurred. I spoke with the diabetic nurse and she said that the lens in the eye becomes dehydrated when blood glucose is high and when it starts to reduce it can temporarily change your vision, she said it should settle in a month or so but to wait before going to the optician.
I hope it goes soon :(
 
Hi Jangles. I take it yours hasn't righted itself yet?
 
Hi Grogg ,
not yet, that's been two weeks. I find it very strange to see clearly in the distance but near is all blurred when for years it's been the other way round.
I've also been a bit 'foggy' in my head at times since starting metformin - the diabetic nurse said that this is the glucose going down. I hope so! It's not as bad now as in first week.
 
Jangles said:
Hi Grogg ,
not yet, that's been two weeks. I find it very strange to see clearly in the distance but near is all blurred when for years it's been the other way round.
I've also been a bit 'foggy' in my head at times since starting metformin - the diabetic nurse said that this is the glucose going down. I hope so! It's not as bad now as in first week.
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Can I ask how high your sugar was when diagnosed and how much metformin you are on. My details are in my signature.

I've had no fogginess but I'm sleeping much better and only getting up once a night for a wee!
 
I was 22.5 , fasting 16 and hba1c 115. I'm on 500 mg metformin x 2 twice a day. I've also been sleeping better too and not craving sugar, I don't know if that's a symptom but before I was diagnosed i was craving sweets and ice lollies for about three weeks beforehand.
 
Jangles said:
I was 22.5 , fasting 16 and hba1c 115. I'm on 500 mg metformin x 2 twice a day. I've also been sleeping better too and not craving sugar, I don't know if that's a symptom but before I was diagnosed i was craving sweets and ice lollies for about three weeks beforehand.
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So similar. I've just upped to 500mg twice a day so 1000mg total though I suspect they will up again if my numbers don't drop. Lowest fasting I've had so far is 8.4.
 
Did you get a bg monitor or any advice from the doc about testing? I'm completely in the dark about when I'll be tested next to know if the levels have gone down.
 
Jangles said:
Did you get a bg monitor or any advice from the doc about testing? I'm completely in the dark about when I'll be tested next to know if the levels have gone down.
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Yes I had a meter from my GP surgery and told to test 3 times a week. However from advice on here I've tested every day since Monday. I check waking and night time as minimum but some days with different foods I've tested before and 2 hours after each meal and then before bed. It does appear not everyone with T2 is given a meter so buy their own. See this thread where I asked about buying strips as a different make monitor to which I have is recommended due to lower cost of strips. You could ask your GP surgery if they will provide you with one. You would also need to be shown how to use it - it is simple but even so someone showing you once is helpful.
 
I think I will get one. I have a feeling the surgery won't supply one , probably due to cost, but I don't mind getting my own as I've not idea if bg is down or how food is reacting. All I got from the doctor was a leaflet and told to watch my diet but nothing specific about bgs or how to manage it.
 
Jangles said:
I think I will get one. I have a feeling the surgery won't supply one , probably due to cost, but I don't mind getting my own as I've not idea if bg is down or how food is reacting. All I got from the doctor was a leaflet and told to watch my diet but nothing specific about bgs or how to manage it.
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Your levels are obviously changing as your eyesight has but a monitor is essential IMO. I've been reading a lot on here and asked for help and people have been so helpful and informative.

I've decided to go for a low carb diet so I've cut out completely bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals. I limit carrots and swede (my favs) as higher carbs than other veg. I am filling up on protein so have eggs for breakfast and chicken for either lunch or dinner and a vegetable based other meal - I adore Aubergine so some meals are just baked aubergine with mozzarella cheese or Aubergine curry!! I am still overweight at 12.5 stone but I've lost 2 stone in last 2 years so I'm happy I'm still moving in the right direction. I've been at this a week and along with metformin I have got my blood sugars down.​
 
That's good they're going down. That's true the eyesight change is an indication! I think because I've no way of measuring it, it doesn't seem like it is. I've cut down on carbs but not completely. I've switched to much smaller quantities and using wholegrain rice and small quantities of potato with increase in veg and protein. I've included cheese but not huge amounts , eggs and cottage cheese in my diet. I've never been able to eat breakfast cereals because soon after I get trembly and wooly headed.
I like the sound of the aubergine and mozzarella dish , sounds lovely, think I'll give it a go!
 
My eyesight is all over the place Ive recently gone back to an optition I had many years ago. I've had double vision for years. I've seen all the top specialists in the Midlands, none have able to help. I've also had two operations which were a waste of time. My sight varies from day to day, so reading your stories I now know am not alone.
Last week I was told that my bloods are under control, but I bought a meter to check it out myself, I want to make sure that my bloods are stable before I spend money on new specs. I was prescribed statins for high colestral but reading the literature I wonder if it was a good idea. As anyone any knowledge about taking statins and Tregenta plus thyroxin. Blood 6.5 and colestral 6.5.
 
2Bornot2B said:
My eyesight is all over the place Ive recently gone back to an optition I had many years ago. I've had double vision for years. I've seen all the top specialists in the Midlands, none have able to help. I've also had two operations which were a waste of time. My sight varies from day to day, so reading your stories I now know am not alone.
Last week I was told that my bloods are under control, but I bought a meter to check it out myself, I want to make sure that my bloods are stable before I spend money on new specs. I was prescribed statins for high colestral but reading the literature I wonder if it was a good idea. As anyone any knowledge about taking statins and Tregenta plus thyroxin. Blood 6.5 and colestral 6.5.
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We have had many discussions on Statins.
 
I chuck my Statins. No way am I taking them. Not with all the bad press. I take enough meds as it is, so no Statins and no water tablets for as long as I can hold out. If I could just lose 8 stone I'd be laughing. People should always go for eye tests whether diabetic or not, they can tell loads of things from your eyes. My sister and I now wear the same glasses, her eyes completely change every so often. Really weird. I have double vision too but had a lazy eye which a couple of operations corrected the look of, at least I can look at people now and not that old joke 'is she looking at me or looking to see if the bus is coming' 😉
 
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Thanks for your reply. I'm not happy taking statins. I collected the prescription on Friday, but I've not taken any yet. I'm very depressed about it all, I've always watched my diet, and I don't eat sweets etc. I spend ages in the supermarket looking at labels, Im amazed to find that most of our foods contains sugar. I give up!!
 
2Bornot2B said:
Thanks for your reply. I'm not happy taking statins. I collected the prescription on Friday, but I've not taken any yet. I'm very depressed about it all, I've always watched my diet, and I don't eat sweets etc. I spend ages in the supermarket looking at labels, Im amazed to find that most of our foods contains sugar. I give up!!
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Diabetes is not as simple as bad diet as the media would have you believe. Many genes have been discovered that play a part it ! So try not to beat yourself up! It is not as simple a sugar either it is carbohydrates that are broken down by the body into glucose.
 
Hi 2bornot2b , I got my prescription for statins on Monday but I haven't taken them either. I don't know what to do , I don't fancy being on them incase of side effects, I think I'd like to try diet first. I've been feeling wooly in the head since starting metformin and don't want to add to it.
 
Hi Grovesy , I think that too. I have a lot of diabetes in my family, parent siblings and cousins. I honestly believe that genes do play a part but the media make it look like it's the persons fault. I've always had blood sugar drops as far as I can remember especially after eating certain foods when I'd become wooly headed and shaky.
 
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