diabetes and eyes

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
diabetes and eyes
5
Sun, 10-10-2004 - 10:11pm
I was wondering......the blurry vision that can be a symptom of type 2 diabtes...is that something that returns to normal when glucose levels are under control or is it more likely to be permanent? I am booked in to see an eye specialist, but in the meantime my curiosity and impatience gets the better of me!

Thanks

Lisa.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: limasu
Sun, 10-10-2004 - 10:37pm

Hi Lisa,


The nerves in the back of the eyes are especially sensitive to the fluxuations of your blood sugar. The elevated blood sugar causes swelling and inflammation of the nerves and that is what is causing the blurry vision. Sometime blurry vision is the only presenting symptom of diabetes and the eye doctor is the one that diagnoses the diabetes. All diabetic need to see their opthomologist once a year for a dilated eye exam. This is one of the standards for diabetic care.


When I was diagnosed my endo told me to wait to see the eye doc until my blood sugars stabilized because of the blurry vision. The blurry vision does go away but it will come back anytime your blood sugar is too high or too low. But I had been routinely seeing the eye doc because of wearing glasses for many years. Reading EKGs with all their little tiny squares put me back into glasses!


Since you have already been referred do see the doctor to make sure at this point everything is okay. But you will notice that your vision improves as your blood sugar comes down closer to normal.


By the way did you post what was your original blood sugar readings? I am trying to read two weeks worth of postings and so I may have missed it. Are you from somewhere other than the USA?


Take care and I look forward to your answers.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: limasu
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 7:56am
Hi Mary Frances.... here is the link to Lisa's first post....
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 7:59pm
Thanks again MaryFrances for the info. My GP was unsure about the blurry vision, but from what you have said and the reading I have done I suspect that the diabetes is the cause. The only other 'symptom' I have had is recurrent thrush. 3 times in 3 months when I normally don't get it at all. That's not even why I went to the dr in the first place, but seeing I was there I mentioned it and he ordered the first FBG.

As for test results my first FBG was 8. Second FBG was 7.2.GTT after 1 hour was 12.6 and after 2hrs 11.4. Cholesterol was normal, but triglycerides were 4.2. HbA1c was 7.1. Dr said that indicates it is probably fairly recent and not been too out of control. Overall he said it was not terrrible, but the diagnosis could not be denied.He is hopeful I won't nedd meds at this stage, but is leaving it up to the specialist.No I'm not from the USA. I am from Australia ( Melbourne ).

Lisa.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: limasu
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 1:47am

Well Lisa, the wanderer has been to Melbourne and she really liked it! It is lot like San Francisco just colder in the fall and winter!


I suspect that you have been diabetic longer than your doctor realizes, especially with the trush infections. They normally come along with uncontrolled diabetes.


The goal here in the USA is an A1C of 6.5 or less and so you shouldn't really have to do too much to achieve that goal. Try and lose a little weight if you are overweight and start getting some exercise. The weather should be nice or becoming nice where you are so you can start exercising outside. Here we have a goal of 10,000 steps per day. It is pretty simple exercise as every step you take per day counts towards your goal. I managed to make 11,000 plus steps one day while I was on vacation and I thought my knee was going to be a basketball the next day. Since I have been home I haven't been exercising much because of my branchitis that I caught on the trip. But I will get back to it! And my new pedometer works pretty well!


Take care Lisa and I hope you continue to post on the board.


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 10:14pm
Thanks again Mary Frances. So you've been to Melbourne? I must say I do love Melbourne except for the hot summers. I have a cousin who moved to the USA recntly ,but I don't know where yet.

I have hired a treadmill to start exercising. I am so unfit I can only manage a bit at a time, but I will work on it. I have my eye specialist appt tomorrow so I will post an update then.

Lisa.