Diabetic Retina Screen time

I remember the first time I got a letter like this from my Diabetic Retina Screening stating that I had background retinopathy. It. Freaked. Me. Out. Big Time! The language of the letter did not help either. It was actually my very first screening with the new service in 2015.

It was such a shock as all previous eye exams done at the community health centre were reported clear. I suppose it’s the difference between having a digital image that the reader can magnify and only relying on a human eye.

I remember trying to decide if I should have faith in the service to refer me if I needed it. Or if I should get a second opinion. I chose the first option but my faith was shaky.

My subsequent letter after my screening in 2016 stated that there was no background retinopathy. So, I assume that retinopathy fluctuates just like blood sugars and this is why I’m not freaking out this time.

*** Although, again, the wording of the letter is not in any way helpful.

I think every single person with diabetes worries about the health of their eyes (among other worries) and so if I don’t get an appointment for my annual screening I seek one out.

I didn’t have to do that this year though, so that was nice. Although, I frequently have to rearrange it because it clashes with school collection times.

One the day of my appointment I bring a driver with me. The dilation drops usually take a couple of hours to wear off and it’s difficult to drive. Oh! I also try to remember to bring a pair of sunglasses. Even if it’s not sunny. This year, I was not successful in remembering and it was the first gloriously sunny day we’d had in weeks. So very bright.

I was in and out of my appointment in less than a half an hour and I had my results at the end of the week.

I really wish that their letter was worded a little more compassionately and appropriately. “It is important to control your blood glucose and blood pressure”. Duh, trying to do that every single day!!! Have you ever tried to “control” something as volatile as a toddler?

If you are new to diabetes or new to the Diabetic Retina Screen Service here are some pointers.

WHAT IS THE DIABETIC RETINA SCREEN SERVICE?

Diabetic RetinaScreen was launched in 2013. It’s an Irish government-funded screening programme to ensure all people with diabetes over the age of 12 years are offered a free annual diabetic retinopathy screening.

It is limited to children over 12 years because complications of diabetes are so rare in children.

The Diabetic RetinaScreen programme uses specialised digital photography to examine the eye.

If you have diabetes, it is important to have the back of your eyes effectively screened every year.
 

HOW DOES THE DIABETIC RETINA SCREEN SERVICE WORK?

When you are diagnosed with diabetes, any type, either your GP or you need to be registered with the service. You can self register here.

You can check if you are on the register by by ringing Freephone 1800 45 45 55 (choose option 1).

Once registered, you will be invited for a screening appointment via letter.

Always remember that if the appointment is a day or time that is difficult for you, a quick phone call can rearrange. I think there may even be Saturday appointments!

Something else that is important to know about the screening service is that it is ONLY checking for retinopathy and diabetes related eye complications. This screen does not determine if you need glasses or if you wear glasses if you need your prescription changed.

Food, Diabetes, Food, Diabetes!!!

Food is the single biggest influence on blood glucose levels when you have diabetes. The topic of food and diabetes will come up in every conversation. It is a massive minefield with so many people offering advice and so many people who are passionate about a single way of eating with diabetes. DISCLAIMER; I'm not a nutrition expert or anything even close but here are the food choices I've made over my 24 years of living with type 1 diabetes.

One of my personal pet peeves is the assumption that diabetes is only about avoiding sugary treats and not the whole carb-boodle. In case you haven’t heard this before PEOPLE WITH DIABETES CAN EAT SUGAR!

When I was diagnosed with type 1 in 1993, I was told that sweets were mostly not allowed. I remember being told if I had a craving for something sweet to drink Diet 7-Up?!?! I very quickly learned what a load of nonsense that was - thank goodness!

More than one way to do food and diabetes

Over the years, I’ve experimented with ways I want to eat, with the many different ways to eat healthy (there’s more than one way) and I’ve read about all the different ways other people with diabetes eat. I used all of these resources to determine what food plan works best for me and my diabetes and I'm happy with what I ended up with.

How insulin works

I have also learned a lot about how insulin works in my body, a little about the glycaemic index of food and how the food is likely to affect my glucose levels. With this knowledge, I can create a “designer” dose of insulin such as pre-meal bolus and extended bolus. I can also “sugar surf”, Micro-bolus and Super Bolus.

What works for me

My overall approach is that I eat healthy but also in keeping with what worked best for our family of four. Sometimes the microwave dies on leftover night and Fast Food is just about fast enough to get us out the door for extracurriculars!

Most days, I eat what’s best for my glucose levels this might be low-medium carb and some days, it might be a carb load. But when the occasion calls for it I eat what looks good and what’s going to taste amazing.

Find what works for you

There are so many food choices. Loads and loads of them.

• What type of food do I eat?
• Do I eat what I feel like eating?
• Do I work the insulin around my food or work my food to my insulin?
• Do I research something new and foreign to what I’ve been used to? Such as low carb, Keto, Paleo, Atkins, South Beach (is that still a thing?), the 5:2, mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, cabbage soup, fat flush, and lots, lots more.

As people with diabetes, we all live completely different lives and there is no one size fits all diabetic diet. So, you get to choose what you want to eat, the way you want to eat and then you come up with your own plan: the one that works best for you.

Christmas Traditions

Do you have any Christmas traditions in your family? We had a couple when I was growing up and now as we have created our own family we have created new ones. Apparently though, my husband doesn’t think we have any! The other day, his colleague asked him if our family had any Christmas traditions. To which he replied that off hand he couldn’t think of any other than going into town on Christmas Eve afternoon and not being able to find any gingerbread men! Yes, that is one, but not an intentional one.

Of course, most of our Christmas traditions have come about because the children started insisting on them. “Oh but we always do it for Christmas”!!!

But some of our traditions have come from our previous generation. The one I most love is the Christmas tree ornament which has been passed down from my in-laws. Every year, as part of your gift box, there was an individualised Christmas Tree ornament. All of my husband’s siblings got the same ornament but with their name and the year on it. When they all moved into their own homes the ornaments followed. So when we had our first christmas tree in our own home we had ornaments from my husbands childhood. Some were even handmade! It was so special to decorate our tree with such precious ornaments.

I have continued this tradition with my own children. Every year, they get an ornament from a special trip we’ve taken.

What does this have to do with diabetes? Last year, my sister-in-law’s family gifted us one such ornament. I have some very special sister in laws, I have to tell you!

Number 1, it’s Lego which is cool anyway. But if you can make it out my Lego persona is a figure wearing a Diabetes UK top. I have no idea where she got it but I think it’s the coolest idea ever!!!

Happy Christmas Everyone! Thank you so much for reading my blog posts and thank you for all the likes and comments. I’ll be back in 2018.