Hi

[Draiggoch]

I'm completely new to this format so not quite sure what to post.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 over 22 years ago and have been on tablet medication for most of that time. I still am. I do have neuropathy in my feet and curiously was told by my optician 2 years ago I had retinopathy in my eyes however the eye screening team at my last scan could no longer find any retinopathy in my eyes. Something I found intriguing. Anyway I look forward to exploring perhaps sharing more of my experiences as time goes on.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Sorry to hear that you have neuropathy. Background retinopathy can repair itself, particularly if you can keep your BG levels reasonably stable and your BP is in range. A few of us have had the "Background Retinopathy" letter but a year or two later we have had the all clear again. I think of it a bit like a bruise in that it is a bleed from a small fragile capillary in your eye, but that blood vessel can heal and the blood/bruise dissipate if it is no longer under pressure either from high Blood Pressure or high Blood Glucose.

Out of curiosity, have they checked your B12 levels. If you have been on Metformin long term it can lead to your body being unable to absorb B12 from your food and that deficiency can cause nerve damage which might look similar to neuropathy. They should screen your B12 to check, so worth checking your records if you have access to them, to ensure it has been done and that isn't the cause. People who have B12 deficiency due to Metformin need to have it injected regularly because the Metformin will block and dietary supplements they take..... Just something to consider.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Draiggoch

I’m another who has had an on-off experience of background changes to my eyes (some of the changes they spot on the photos that are flagged as ‘background’ are really tiny).

I was pretty spooked by the scarily-worded letter the first time. Then it went away for a couple of years, then reappeared for another year, then went away for a good few years, and has just raised its head again on my last screening.

I’ll be interested to see if it hangs around this time, or goes away again!

 

[Draiggoch]

Hi and welcome.

Sorry to hear that you have neuropathy. Background retinopathy can repair itself, particularly if you can keep your BG levels reasonably stable and your BP is in range. A few of us have had the "Background Retinopathy" letter but a year or two later we have had the all clear again. I think of it a bit like a bruise in that it is a bleed from a small fragile capillary in your eye, but that blood vessel can heal and the blood/bruise dissipate if it is no longer under pressure either from high Blood Pressure or high Blood Glucose.

Out of curiosity, have they checked your B12 levels. If you have been on Metformin long term it can lead to your body being unable to absorb B12 from your food and that deficiency can cause nerve damage which might look similar to neuropathy. They should screen your B12 to check, so worth checking your records if you have access to them, to ensure it has been done and that isn't the cause. People who have B12 deficiency due to Metformin need to have it injected regularly because the Metformin will block and dietary supplements they take..... Just something to consider.

Thank you Barbara for you advice. I shall attempt to get through to my doctor re B12. My annual check hasn't thrown up any issues though. I not sure if in fact they check B12. I was advised 1 year ago to take vitamin D daily. I switched this year to multivitamins.

 

[rebrascora]

AS I said, if it is B12 deficiency caused by the Metformin, an oral multivitamin won't help with it because the Metformin stops your body from absorbing it into the blood stream, so it just passes through unused. Certainly worth asking if it has been checked as a deficiency can cause issues with your nerves particularly in your feet and legs.

 

[grovesy]

Thank you Barbara for you advice. I shall attempt to get through to my doctor re B12. My annual check hasn't thrown up any issues though. I not sure if in fact they check B12. I was advised 1 year ago to take vitamin D daily. I switched this year to multivitamins.

For the last couple of years I have had my B12 rountinuely done with my 6 monthly bloods. I have been asked am I taking B12 supplements too!

 

[Draiggoch]

Welcome to the forum @Draiggoch

I’m another who has had an on-off experience of background changes to my eyes (some of the changes they spot on the photos that are flagged as ‘background’ are really tiny).

I was pretty spooked by the scarily-worded letter the first time. Then it went away for a couple of years, then reappeared for another year, then went away for a good few years, and has just raised its head again on my last screening.

I’ll be interested to see if it hangs around this time, or goes away again!

Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a shame neuropathy couldn't be similar.