Progression of complications

[veganlass]

My DSN said I may have had it for years. Only picked up due to unrelated problem.

 

[AJLang]

For what I understand its a badly controlled diabetic that can have complications.

Apart from background retinopathy I didn't develop complications until I was 37. I've been diabetic since I was 2 and whilst I grew up there were no blood tests for checking your BGs and no inulins that could be used for correction doses. Now the main complication that I have - gastroparesis - makes blood sugars erratic - so I'm caught in a vicious cycle which has impacted on my eyes. I don't think that any diabetic should be "blamed" for their complications

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Amanda,
the soluable insulins which are now called neutral insulin were and are still used for correction as well as bolus. ( I was diagnosed in 1965)

 

[AJLang]

Hi Sue thanks for that but I was never told that I could use them for corrections. I was initially started on one injection a day, then a few years later two injections a day. But we were definitely never, ever told that we could do corrections until I was in my mid twenties when I was put on to humalog. When blood tests were introduced we were never taught how to make corrections - it was just a case of the insulin dose being altered at hospital appointments. Maybe different hospitals gave different advice?

 

[Twitchy]

I think I'm a twin to AJ - at least in terms of early control! I was 11 months old at diagnosis & was stuck on 2 mixed jabs for nearly 2 decades - certainly don't remember being told anything at all about corrections until I did DAFNE at 24 yrs old (finally got put onto MDI in my teens, but without any real education in how to use it usefully & no idea where to find more info - no lovely forum then!).

I had background retinopathy before my first pregnancy (late twenties) & was told that it was fairly normal to have background retinopathy after that long as a diabetic. I was also warned that pregnancy can rapidly accelerate the progression of retinopathy, which is why they should check your eyes each trimester. Unfortunately mine did accelerate & I needed lots of laser within a year or so after having baby. There was some debate as to whether or not it was sensible to go for a second child, but in the end we got the green light to go for it. Again, however things worsened & this time I needed laser during (& after!) the pregnancy. Things have stabilized now, but the apart from the painful laser sessions & the frustrations caused by the bleeds, the WORST THING was the arrogant, judgemental, and frankly obnoxious attitude at the eye casualty of my hospital. Every time I presented with a bleed (per instructions from eye doctor) I got "Retinopathy? Huh. You MUST be badly controlled!" - in a really dismissive & 'why do we bother' tone. 😡 Really, really wish they could have walked a mile or ten in my shoes!!!! Not a nice bunch.

Sorry for that glum tale, but the point was sometimes things can accelerate complications for reasons other than 'bad control' - my HbA1c hasn't been that bad in memory & at this time it was 5.7%. (Yes, I am bitter at the attitude I got!!!!!)

 

[AJLang]

Thanks Twinny Twitchy🙂. I also had to use guessing when put onto MDI. What really concerned me was that when I went to my consultant last month and said that I didn't want any more complications after having had diabetes for only 41 years instead of giving me advice he acted as if I had to accept that complications were what were to be expected because I'd had it so long

 

[AJLang]

Things have stabilized now, but the apart from the painful laser sessions & the frustrations caused by the bleeds, the WORST THING was the arrogant, judgemental, and frankly obnoxious attitude at the eye casualty of my hospital. Every time I presented with a bleed (per instructions from eye doctor) I got "Retinopathy? Huh. You MUST be badly controlled!" - in a really dismissive & 'why do we bother' tone. 😡 Really, really wish they could have walked a mile or ten in my shoes!!!! Not a nice bunch.

It's so horrible, nasty and mean that they treated you like that I'm so very glad that things have stabilised now🙂 xx

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sue thanks for that but I was never told that I could use them for corrections. I was initially started on one injection a day, then a few years later two injections a day. But we were definitely never, ever told that we could do corrections until I was in my mid twenties when I was put on to humalog. When blood tests were introduced we were never taught how to make corrections - it was just a case of the insulin dose being altered at hospital appointments. Maybe different hospitals gave different advice?

😱 at your lack of care. My Mum was given instructions to increase my insulin when urine was bright orange or to decrease the carbs at my next meal. Then when blood testing became available it was just a normal thing to increase or decrease the insulin depending on the results.
I was another one who started on 2 injections a day of soluable insulin. Then when Isophane was invented I was moved onto that as well. I'm not to sure but I think I was 8 yrs old when Isophane was first given to me.