[JM0715]

Hello,

I’m a newbie here, & am very grateful that I can discuss my situation with you guys. It’s nice to be talking with people who can relate to my Diabetes.

I was diagnosed with Diabetic Macular Edema on my left eye last week by my Retina specialist (I have 20/40 on my left eye, 20/20 on the right?. I have some blurred vision in the middle of my eyesight on my left eye, & having problems reading fine print because of this. My Retina specialist advised me to be vigilant because of this, & wanted me to comeback in three months, & wanted me to take better control of my BGLs.

Has anyone in this forum have, or, have had the same situation as I’m in right now? What are your experiences in dealing with this issue? What type of treatments have you had, how long were the treatments, & how effective were they? Are he treatments lifetime?

I’m having a hard time dealing with this right now, & just wanted for some support.

Thanks.

 

[RCG]

Can you tell us what your blood glucose values, and your latest HbA1c are, and talk a bit about your dietary choices?

 

[VeeJay]

Hi JM

This is a good support group, but the emphasis is on blood sugar control. The experiences of the members here is that high blood glucose (BG) causes all kinds of health issues and when BG is lowered to below 140mg/dl or even less, then some of these issues improve and/or clear up.

So, do you have your diabetes under control?

(Usually new members start an intro thread and share their diabetes management, and then may start a second thread on something as specific as this one is.)

 

[JM0715]

My last HbA1c was 9.2. This was taken a month ago, but my BGLs are coming down ever since. I am currently on a daily 80 gm carb intake.

 

[Roxanne0312]

Yes I have it. I also have Diabetic Retinopathy on top it. The best thing I can say is get your BG glucose down in the 80's. Retinopathy wise do it slow so you don't have worsening symptoms of that. I think they do the shots for the edema. I had 3 lasers treatments for the retinopathy and bringing down my blood sugars I can see better. My eyesight in the right eye is 20/40 and have central vision loss, which I am told I will never regain that back. I believe the shots in the eye will give some of your eyesight back. I can't have them because of the heart attack and drugs I have to take because of that. Right now the doctor says my eyesight is stable, but have to see him again in 2 months.

Any help is only temporary measures, but progression will stop if you control your blood sugar in normal ranges (80's). I know you probably was told different, but I can tell from experience I can see pretty clearly when my blood sugar in the 80's. I believe it's a life long problem to answer your question, but the good news is, if you keep getting treatments, chances are you won't go blind.

 

[wonderwoman]

Hi, JM. I have macular edema along with my proliferative retinopathy. I've had several procedures on my eyes over the past six months: 2 Avastin injections in each eye, laser treatments on each eye, etc. I just had a vitrectomy on my right eye, and the day after had my vision in that eye tested at 20/20 - with no black spots obscuring vision!! I've scheduled the left eye for 10/21. My A1c was very high just 9 months ago (12.7), and it's now 5.9 using low carb/high fat and getting a pump and a CGM. I have a number of complications from allowing my blood sugar to run so high for so many years. . . by far the worst is the retinopathy and macular edema. Get your numbers down and the eye disease can arrest getting worse. My damage is unfortunately done - now,, it's a matter of keeping it from progressing and keeping it status quo. Good luck and welcome!