Hi everyone

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Claire

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Type 1
I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 21 years and I have been receiving treatment for diabetic retinopathy for the last couple of months. I have kept good control of my diabetes for this time and was surprised that it has happended to me. It absolutely terrifies me, does anyone have any experience of laser eye surgery for diabetic retinopathy?
 
hi claire and welcome to the site , they is a member on here by the name of twitchy who has had work on her eyes done , maybe have a chat when she is online x
 
hi clare sorry to hear about the eyes ....but Welcome to here🙂
 
Hi Claire,
Welcome to the forum! I have been type 1 for 30 years and a few years ago I had to have some lasering done on both eyes. I think mine was for maculopathy though (not sure if thats the right spelling?). Since then I have to go back to the eye clinic at the hospital every 6 months but so far it hasnt progressed any further - but have been told that I probably will need more lasering done at some stage. I know it is a really scary thought having to have your eyes lasered, but in my experience I found the thought of it was far worse than the actual thing!

When are you having the lasering done?
 
Hi Claire, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your eye problems, especially when you've been controlling your Diabetes well for all these years.

Hope all goes well.

xx
 
Hi Clare and welcome 🙂 - I have had diabetes for 35 years and had two lots of laser treatment. Apparently when you have T1 for as long as we have had, it can be inevitable. I was upset when I had mine the first time - apparently up and down sugars is one of the main causes, but then mine completely went away - the consultant said he had never seen that happen before - but then unfortunately it reared it's head again when I was pregnant. I was most upset, but determined to keep sugar levels as even as possible. Which seems impossible a lot of the time!
So don't panic - and be reassured good control or as near as can prevent it re-occuring. Fingers crossed xx
 
Hi Claire,

Welcome to the site. I've not had to have any treatment yet. I'm only showing early diabetic changes to my eyes fortunately. There are a few here who've had similar treatment to you. Ask whatever you want and I'm sure my fellow inmates of the madhouse (forum surely??) will give you as much advice as they can.

Tom
 
Thank you for your replies.

I started the laser treatment in early October and I have just been for my fourth treatment last Wednesday. I had my baby in March and I had a well controlled pregnancy. The doctors originally advised that sometimes pregnancy can cause an acceleration in the condition but they now think that it was more likely the time factor as I only started symptoms in the summer.

Having had diabetes for this long, this is the first time that having the condition has shaken me. However, I am trying to stay positive and doing my blood sugars twice as often. Having a beautiful daughter is the biggest incentive. 🙂
 
Claire said:
Thank you for your replies.

I started the laser treatment in early October and I have just been for my fourth treatment last Wednesday. I had my baby in March and I had a well controlled pregnancy. The doctors originally advised that sometimes pregnancy can cause an acceleration in the condition but they now think that it was more likely the time factor as I only started symptoms in the summer.

Having had diabetes for this long, this is the first time that having the condition has shaken me. However, I am trying to stay positive and doing my blood sugars twice as often. Having a beautiful daughter is the biggest incentive. 🙂
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aww congrats on the birth of your daughter Claire and her first xmas altho at 9 mnth she wont know an awful lot lol.staying positive is the key but we are no machines they will be times it gets us down but in them cases we are here for you if you ever need a shoulder or a rant xx
 
Hi Claire and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about your eye problems.
 
Claire,
I have just joined the site today and read your message first. It resonated with me immediately because i've been type1 for 24 years and in 2009 for the first time i was told i had some background retinopathy - my first ever sign of complications.
I must admit i was a little depressed for the first time ever in my life but having spoken to my very positive opthalmologist and diabetes specialist they reassured me about the future. I also know someone who had laser treatment many years ago and their sight is still good. Keep positive and good luck.
Ian
 
rawtalent said:
Claire,
I have just joined the site today and read your message first. It resonated with me immediately because i've been type1 for 24 years and in 2009 for the first time i was told i had some background retinopathy - my first ever sign of complications.
I must admit i was a little depressed for the first time ever in my life but having spoken to my very positive opthalmologist and diabetes specialist they reassured me about the future. I also know someone who had laser treatment many years ago and their sight is still good. Keep positive and good luck.
Ian
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Hi Ian, welcome to the forum🙂 I got news that I had background retinopathy last year - and I've been diagnosed less than 2 years! My understanding is that it can be a transient thing and can disappear of its own accord, so hopeflly that will be the case with both of us. There are a few members here who have had the laser therapy also, and they are fine - treatments are really so dvanced and effective now, the fear of blindness is far less than it used to be (but we must remain vigilant, of course!).
 
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