Hi. I am a newly diagnosed diabetic, and am currently not on any meds,
so my blood sugars are generally quite out of control, despite careful
eating and being relatively active.  I was on glyburide, but had a very
bad allergic reaction.  Then, when my OGTT results came back, the doc
wanted to run more tests to see if I'm type one or type two, and hold
off meds or insulin until we knew what was going on.  Still don't have
all the test results, so the CDE is trying to get me on some fast acting
 insulin to temporarily fix things until we know more. She doesn't like
that I am usually in the 200-300 range, and have often gone to 400+ once
 up at 500.

I am seeing my opthomologist on Tuesday for a dilated exam, to check for
 the more serious complications, and at least get a baseline for
changes in the future.  She also follows me for my graves disease, so
I'm  not a new patient or anything.  I will ask her all this too, but
was hoping for suggestions here as well.

My main issue right now is not the long term negatives of retinopathy,
which hasn't likely set in, this was caught early (A1C was 5.3 at
diagnosis, but BG was high etc.) I know it is progressing fast, as my
A1C will be MUCH higher next time, but I have obviously not been running
 consistently high for ages yet.  The issue I have is with the annoying
vision changes that accompany fluctuating blood sugar. I am moderately
near sighted (-3.0 OS, -3.5 OD). I also have astigmatism, Can't remember
the script for that, I know the axis is about opposite in each eye, the
right eye is worse (always has been, and doesn't always correct to
20/20) but I don't know the strength.  It is also moderate.  Now, I know
many diabetics suggest buying tons of OTC readers to help with the
vision change. (often,one goes from near to far to near sighted back and
forth with the fluctuations). I also know that getting a new script now
is pointless, until the BG's are controlled, cause the vision is just
going to blur in and out until then.  Well, the changes dont' seem to
affect my astigmatism, or if they do, readers won't help. Also, I can't
get clearer vision by removing my glasses, which I possibly could if I
were just near sighted (if a BG just kind mostly corrected the
nearsightedness  instead of making me totally farsighted), I think
because of the astigmatism, but who knows.  Would trying on readers over
my regular glasses possibly help?  I know it would look dorky but I
could see better for the computer and reading and such.  I know the best
fix is getting my BG's under control, and then getting an updated script
for glasses. That is of course the long term goal, but it takes time,
especially when it is taking so long for me to get meds to help me.
Obviously, diet and exercise are not enough, and things are getting
worse--my BG's are trending up.  Any suggestions for a temp fix, or
should I just live with it until I get this all figured out?

Emily

OTIS need not reply with PLUS PREVENTION ideas.  I wasn't put into
glasses until I started driving at 16, and with a family history of very
poor eyesight starting in the teens, it was likely inevitable.  Plus,
the astigmatism I don't think has anything to do with the myopia.