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Help Retinopathy

M

MickyG

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Hi everyone, I really need some info/advice. Diagnosed T2 Dec 23. Last year first eye screen had back ground retinopathy but just had screen and told have fluid in one eye now too. She said the name but I’ve forgotten already in my panic. She said I’ll need a scan and monitoring. Said my sugars must be high but I use a libre and it says average of 8. So I didn’t think too bad. Im really, really worried. I’ve been mega stressed and just got through 2 week wait at breast clinic and thought I was over the c**p times. Over last 90 days my sugars have been average 8.2 so again not horrendous. Please help clarify.
 
Was maculopathy the word they mentioned? When I had my recent eye screening the results letter mentioned both retinopathy and maculopathy.
 
Sorry to hear you’ve had some worrying news following your recent eye screening.

Was this your annual eye screening appointment? Or was this a separate follow-up? Have they suggested a date for your next appointment?

Some of the signs of changes they pick up are at the very early stages, so it may be that just tweaking things a little to get your BG levels a little more into the target ranges

Before meals 4-7mmol/L
After meals - no higher than 8.5mmol/L by 2hrs after eating

(Which would perhaps put your average more like 6-6.5mmol/L), might be really helpful?
 
Martin.A said:
Was maculopathy the word they mentioned? When I had my recent eye screening the results letter mentioned both retinopathy and maculopathy.
Click to expand...
Yes it could well have been, def think it was a ‘pathy’ at the end. I was just in shock because I wasn’t expecting it and after the 2 week wait I wasn’t ready for more bad news. She says I’ll need to lower my sugars and good chance it’ll absorb itself and won’t need treatment yet. I have health anxiety so I over analyze everything said. May I ask if you’re still in remission as Im surprised you were diagnosed the same. Thank you .
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear you’ve had some worrying news following your recent eye screening.

Was this your annual eye screening appointment? Or was this a separate follow-up? Have they suggested a date for your next appointment?

Some of the signs of changes they pick up are at the very early stages, so it may be that just tweaking things a little to get your BG levels a little more into the target ranges

Before meals 4-7mmol/L
After meals - no higher than 8.5mmol/L by 2hrs after eating

(Which would perhaps put your average more like 6-6.5mmol/L), might be really helpful?
Click to expand...
Yes it was routine and she says I should get follow up letter in week or two for a scan and she thinks lowering BS will help and I won’t need treatment. I was just shocked. Your figures really help thank you, I’ll set my aim for them instead of thinking my average 8 is ok.
 
An average of 8 is not to be sniffed at, but starting there, if you can shave off a few more points with a few tweaks and changes it feels like your body might have a chance to settle down a bit?
 
MickyG said:
May I ask if you’re still in remission as Im surprised you were diagnosed the same. Thank you .
Click to expand...
Yes, although I have my annual review in May and I'll get an updated HbA1c which will hopefully confirm that I still am. I'm still consistently getting mid-to-high 5s both fasting and post meal so there's nothing to suggest otherwise.

My eye screening showed no signs of retinopathy or maculopathy, by the way.
 
I assume it is a macular oedema. I had one more than ten years ago when I delayed going to eye casualty with a uveitis flare. I had a 6 week course of steroids. I wasn't diabetic then. Last October I had a cataract op and was told my uveitis ( eye inflammation) would flare. The uveitis cleared up but I had another oedema which consultant seemed unbothered by as it was quite small, but I had extra eye drops it has now resolved. I've had the second cataract done and am awaiting an appointment to confirm everything is OK. I sympathise with the worry but it has been found and will be treated. I'm on 4 drops a day in one eye and 2 in the other until next appointment.

I have delayed my first eye screening so maybe posting when it happens. Do ask questions but don't panic.
 
Sorry to hear you have had had such a worrying time with health issues and then an unwelcome retinal screening result.
High Blood Pressure is also bad for they eyes. Do you monitor that at home? If you get anxious and stressed about stuff, then that may be raising your BP as well as your BG levels unfortunately.

What sort of Time In Range results are you getting with Libre? How high do you usually spike after meals? Reducing any big spikes after meals can result in less variation in BG level. More variation in levels I believe increases the risk of complications developing or getting worse, so an average BG doesn't always tell the full story and an average of 8mmols is a bit higher than ideal anyway.
 
Hi @MickyG
when did the consultant say they might want you to have another scan ?

usually (in my experience) on the way out if there is something that needs treating immediately
then on the way out the next appointment is requested (in my case every 4/6 or currently 8 weeks)

I'm thinking if they are just going to confirm the signs you mention in a letter, and maybe in your case they have spotted something yes, however hopefully some
changes to your routine diet or excise levels might be all that's needed possibly

you said your wearing a Libra what does it predict Hba1c as / what was your most recent blood test showing
 
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