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We found 10 result(s) that match your search "retinopathy":

One of our readers, Teresa, has some questions for the Blogabetes readers about diabetic retinopathy. Has anyone had retinopathy surgery and can share their experiences with Teresa?
"I have a question that I was unable to find an answer for, and couldn't figure out how to post a new blog. I have type 1 diabetes and have had it for over 30 years. I have retinopathy and have had many surgeries. I now have cataracts as a secondary problem of the surgeries and my doc wants to remove them, I have done some fairly extensive research on the two (retinopathy and cataracts) and have found that most articles agree that cataract surgery speeds up the process of retinopathy. Has anyone here had this surgery as a person also with retinopathy?
Does anyone know more about the complications?
- Teresa" (READ MORE)

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When I was in high school I played volleyball. Like most schools, we had a junior varsity and a varsity team. I believe I was a sophomore (maybe I was a junior,it was a long time ago) when I started playing for JV and varsity. OK, so I actually played for JV and mostly warmed the bench while the varsity team played until the coach got mad at a player and decided to send me in.
At any rate, I was called a floater, as were the other girls who played for both teams. Until I got involved with the diabetes community, my definition of floater was a person who moves between two high school volleyball teams. It wasn't until I started frequenting the Diabetic Mommy web site that I learned there are actually more definitions for this word. (READ MORE)

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I hate today.

 

My annual eye exam is this afternoon and every time I have to have this done, it seems I get more freaked out about it. I have a “thing” about my eyes. Let me put it to you this way, the first time I got contact lenses it took me literally 1 hour to get one in! It's embarrassing to admit that but it is the truth.

 

The fear I have is two fold. The uncomfortable procedure itself and whatever the doctor will find.

 

I cannot stand those thick eye drops. It is like molasses. Thick sticky muck being dropped in my eyes. I hate it. And it stings. At least to me it stings and there is little worse then eyes that are stinging in my humble opinion.

 

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I am a writer. At times, I fancy myself an artist. I create things. With pen, paper, a camera, paint.
My mother says that I ate the world up as a young girl. That I couldn't get enough. I would stay up into the wee hours, watching the shadows on the wall or examining the shapes on the wallpaper from top to bottom and then bottom to top. She also says I didn't care to sleep. She felt I was afraid I'd miss something. I think she's right.
I still spend a lot of time looking at things. Feeling light, color, and texture with my eyes. Scrutinizing the world around me. I suppose some of this is the artist in me. The need to really SEE things before I can include them in the art I'm making.
And some of it is how afraid I am of losing my eyesight. (READ MORE)

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Yesterday, I searched Marvin's bright blue eyes as they danced in the afternoon sun. I marveled at the gray of my cat's fur. I glanced at the scenes flying past the car window.

 

It was a fairly normal day. I woke up, I went to lunch with Marvin, I spent the evening with my mom. I didn't think twice about my life. Until I was watching TV last night and the thought popped into my mind, I hope I don't go blind.

 

It was an episode of "Without a Trace." A girl around fifteen years old had suddenly gone blind from a retinal disease. In the episode, she struggled with the loss of her sight. She acted out, she was forced to develop new systems and patterns, she lost it.

 

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"What does pot have to do with diabetes?" The question came up in the course of a lunchtime conversation with Chris Goldstein of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey, as we discussed our respective advocacies. (New Jersey is currently in the middle of a medical-marijuana tug-of-war.) When the uses of medical marijuana are broached in the media, it's usually in conjunction with terminal cancer -- or intense, persistent pain. The last time I sat in on a presentation on medical marijuana, the speaker explained how it eased many of the symptoms of his late wife's multiple sclerosis. But diabetes? Tell me another one.

 

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I made a note on my calendar to call Dr. S today about the bloodwork I had done last week. His nurse told me it may be a week or two before I got results and that I could call any time to see if they were in.

 

I got impatient (go figure!) and called yesterday. After going through automated phone Hell, I got to the voice mail of the nurse. Her mailbox said feel free to leave a message, but be aware that it may take me 72 hours to get back to you. *sigh*

 

So I left a message fully expecting NOT to hear from her any time soon. I considered calling again today, but even though I'm impatient I'm not a pest. Well, maybe sometimes.

 

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Ugh.

 

That is the perfect one word description of my diabetes management these days.  I am off the rails.  I am not on track.  I am completely (or so it seems) - out of control.  I see highs, I see lows, I see some in-range sugars - but mostly - not. 

 

Today, for example.  68 mg/dl this morning.  No breakfast, because I was too busy, just some Fuse Banana Colada juice.  119 mg/dl at around noon time.  Salad.  No test until 4pm.  4pm.  And I've tested two times today.  Then I'm 200 mg/dl...  So what do I do?  I have a carb heavy dinner and some ice cream.  I am 236 mg/dl at 6:30 pm.  I am 175 mg/dl now.  Terrible.  Terrible.  Terrible.  And not rare these days.

 

I haven't been to the gym at all this week.  Work activities.  Home searches...  Other stuff that's - distracting. 

 

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This is not a post about retinopathy or losing eye sight. 

 

This is a post about how easy it is to see what is right in front of us, what we deal with each day, and miss the bigger pictures.  

 

When it comes to diabetes, sometimes the day to day management and challenges can be so much to handle, we forget bigger picture blessings like relative good health, the ability to retain employment and to take care of our families, and the tools we have at our disposal to improve control. 

 

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On Saturday, I will mark my 29th year with diabetes.  I'm not sure what else I have to say about the anniversary this year.  I don't plan to celebrate,  but I do plan to take a few moments to reflect on my successes over the years. 

 

I have only mild retinopathy in one of my eyes.  Otherwise, I am complication free.

 

I have health insurance, it helps me to stay reasonably well.  

 

I have access to nutritious food and I can afford to get regular activity.

 

I have graduated middle school, high school, and college with diabetes in my life.

 

I am a successful professional.

 

I love and empathize as well as any person I know.  

 

I extend forgiveness very well.  I think, in part, because I must forgive myself on a regular basis.  

 

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