GSchmidt
06-08-2009, 06:17 AM
I posted this in the pumping section, but am copying it here too...
My husband is Type 1 for 30+ years, but about 3 months ago started on the pump. He loves it! But there is one big problem - he has been having more retinal bleeds than ever before and although he's satisfied with his doc's explanation, I am not.
Before the pump he was having a few bleeds a year. He's had the laser surgery on each eye to control the leaking vessels but that was a few years ago.
In the last few months, he's been having bleeds in alternating eyes every 2-4 weeks!!!! Sometimes associated with exercise, or a bump on the head while wrestling with our son, but just as often while doing nothing but sitting still.
Explanation from his retina specialist: this is normal for a while for a new pumper because with better control the eyes start freaking out in the adjustment. I think his A1C went from 8 something to 7 something and I'm sure continues to drop as his sugars are MUCH better on the pump.
My question is: How long (roughly) will this increase in bleeds last? It's already been a few months....are we talking more months or even year(s)? If so, what can be done? His vision is normally fine, but when both eyes are affected I worry about him driving, and he has difficulty seeing the computer at work which is a problem.
His BP is good, and has been good. 125/80 or something like that.
Any advice?
He lost his father as a teenager to diabetic complications, and his dad was blind from the time he was 10, so any kind of eye trouble strikes a very sensitive fear for him and I want to find some answers other than....it's the pump and you just need to deal with it. If this continues, I'm afraid he'll want to go off the pump. He knows with the pump his overall health is better, but he's very sensitive about the thought of losing his sight because of seeing his dad go thru the same.
My husband is Type 1 for 30+ years, but about 3 months ago started on the pump. He loves it! But there is one big problem - he has been having more retinal bleeds than ever before and although he's satisfied with his doc's explanation, I am not.
Before the pump he was having a few bleeds a year. He's had the laser surgery on each eye to control the leaking vessels but that was a few years ago.
In the last few months, he's been having bleeds in alternating eyes every 2-4 weeks!!!! Sometimes associated with exercise, or a bump on the head while wrestling with our son, but just as often while doing nothing but sitting still.
Explanation from his retina specialist: this is normal for a while for a new pumper because with better control the eyes start freaking out in the adjustment. I think his A1C went from 8 something to 7 something and I'm sure continues to drop as his sugars are MUCH better on the pump.
My question is: How long (roughly) will this increase in bleeds last? It's already been a few months....are we talking more months or even year(s)? If so, what can be done? His vision is normally fine, but when both eyes are affected I worry about him driving, and he has difficulty seeing the computer at work which is a problem.
His BP is good, and has been good. 125/80 or something like that.
Any advice?
He lost his father as a teenager to diabetic complications, and his dad was blind from the time he was 10, so any kind of eye trouble strikes a very sensitive fear for him and I want to find some answers other than....it's the pump and you just need to deal with it. If this continues, I'm afraid he'll want to go off the pump. He knows with the pump his overall health is better, but he's very sensitive about the thought of losing his sight because of seeing his dad go thru the same.