It’s been 27 years since I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and it’s been a struggle controlling my blood sugars since then. Imagine being a kid that wasn’t allowed to have any kind of sweets. It wasn’t easy even though I was able to eat the diabetic stuff, it just wasn’t the same. I was always told that there would be consequences for cheating on my diet and uncontrolled sugars and damage to my body were those consequences. I’m thankful to have met many other diabetics who have had amputations and have lost vision, just some of the unfortunate results of this life-long disease. These people have helped me realize what I was knowingly ignoring; my condition needs constant monitoring and as much as that coconut cream pie is making my mouth water, my disease will take the toll!
I’ve learned the hard way! I now suffer from acute renal failure, gastroparesis and mow eye problems. Roughly 6 years ago, I was getting ready for bed when I suddenly felt nauseous. I got up to go to the bathroom and the next thing I know I’m on the bathroom floor. I had a massive headache and noticed black lines in my vision as well as it being blurry. Thankfully my wife was home to come see what had happened and was able to rush me to the ER. Turns out I had an aneurysm in my eye that burst and when this happened I blacked out and hit my head on the corner of a shelf as I fell. Hence the major headache! This is what I thought left me with eye floaters but it’s actually something that Diabetics suffer from know as diabetic retinopathy. These floaters I see can look like:
- Black or grey dots
- Squiggly lines
- Threadlike strands which can be semi-transparent
- Ring shaped
- Cobwebs
Once a person develops floaters they usually don’t go away!
Every year I have to go for lasik surgery to stop the haemorrhaging in my eyes due to the Diabetes which is apparently something that happens to people who have had diabetes for 10 years or more. The thing that’s scary is that people with this disease will eventually lose their sight. I’m definitely fortunate and thankful to be living in a country where treatment is covered and that I at least have a hope of keeping my eyesight.
This week was one of surgery pics and in August comes the 3 appointments for surgery. Even though I’ve had it done before I can’t help but feel anxiety kicking in as the days countdown. The consequences of a disease are never easy to accept but doing what it takes to keep it at bay is a must! I wake up ever morning thankful for being granted one more day of being able to see my son grow, my wife’s loving face and this beautiful world we live in. Don’t ever take your health for granted!
Do you or someone you know suffer from complications due to Diabetes?
This is crazy, I can’t believe that there is all these complications. Is the Lasik the same process as the vision surgery?
That’s a great question Anita and unfortunately not one I’m able to answer. The eye specialist zaps the areas of my eyes that are bleeding with a laser. Cauteriz. Unfortunately the lights are excruciatingly bright which makes my eye’s roll in my head resulting in them being numbed/frozen first. I honestly think the freezing is the most nerve wracking part of it other than losing my sight.