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Are these vision problems a symptom of diabetes?

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Posted 2/14/2015 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hello to everybody, I just have a quick and hopefully simple question that I was hoping to get some input on.

I just want to first start off by saying I have never been diagnosed with diabetes and the last blood test to check for it was done some 2-3 years ago, which came back at a blood sugar level of 93 I believe.

Anyways I'm going to try and make this fast and simple, I am now 28 these symptoms originated around the time I was 21. Essentially I woke up one day and I felt really sick almost like I had the flu but not as severe really nauseated with headaches, light headed, mild dizziness, tingling sensations in my extremities, and by far the worst symptom was a visual disturbance I have yet to figure out exactly how to describe. The best way I can explain it is its really hard to focus my eyes, almost like I feel like I'm in a constant daze with the occasional blurry vision. It's really hard to describe but it's very bothersome I want to say it's almost like being slightly drunk or in a very heavy brain fog or like your looking at something but your not. Though a lot of these symptoms have gotten better the visual disturbances still remain with no explanation.

Like I said I really don't know how to describe it but I was wondering if anybody here has experienced any of these symptoms from diabetes? I also have very poor night vision with a lot of visual snow, fatigue, excessive thirst but I always contributed these symptoms to my ibs.

Also I have an active lifestyle though my diet especially around the time these symptoms originated has been fairly poor.

Please help any input would be greatly appreciated. Also some other side notes I do have ibs, I have had my vision checked out along with all possibilities of an explanation for the ibs and nothing shows up.

Thanks
Posted 2/14/2015 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kamikazee. Welcome to the Diabetes Forum! I don't know. Your symptoms seems to be so varied; some could be similar to having high blood sugar and some not.

Vision problems related to diabetes normally takes years to develop, so the best advice I can give you is to have lab tests, a complete blood work up and urinanalysis. I would also see an ophthalmologist for an eye exam. There are special tests done that examine behind the eye and how the pressure and health of all parts of the eyes are. These tests are very specialized, more than you would get during a normal eye exam for glasses. Glaucoma and retinopathy are two conditions associated with diabetes but are treatable which is why it's important to have these exams. During a routine eye exam by an optometrist, the patient who is of a certain age is usually given an eye pressure test (for glaucoma) and if the results are high, then the eye doctor would refer the patient to an ophthalmologist. Because you're young but having some kind of vision disturbance, you need to describe this to the eye doctor you see.

Without more information about you, it's hard to give you more advice though. Are you overweight? Do other family members have diabetes? If so, there might be a tendency toward diabetes even at your age.

So, the bottom line is that you need to have some lab work done to see what's going on. There are different kinds of tests for blood sugar. Normally, you're instructed to go in fasting - and maybe that's what the 93 was. Doctors want fasting blood sugar to be under 100. The lab can also do an A1c blood test which measures what your blood sugar average has been over the previous 90 days. When the lab takes vials of blood for a complete work up, the A1c can be just part of the many tests they do.

If your blood sugar does end up being a problem, then I can help you with food questions although I understand you have IBS and balancing those two conditions may be tricky.

Finally, do you think some of this might be anxiety? Sometimes anxiety causes these symptoms but to rule that out, you really do need complete lab tests.

Good luck and keep us updated. I understand you're worried about this.


yeah
Posted 2/14/2015 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the reply, as of right now most of the other symptoms are minimal compared to the visual problems I've been experiencing. And it's so hard to explain because I'm not so sure that it's even a visual problem perhaps maybe a kind of nerve condition or severe mental fog and confusion. I guess that's why I posted this question because I was hoping to see if anybody else had similar symptoms or experiences with diabetes?

An example is I talked to my friend the other day who's husband has diabetes and she said before he got it under control he was having vision problems and I asked her to explain them and she said he couldn't really describe it. He just said his vision was just felt out of whack and I guess that's kind of how I feel.

I have seen an ophthalmologist and have had extensive eye testing done. They believed at first that I might have convergence insufficiency so put me into a therapy course. But after excelling at all the exercises they decided that was not the issue.

As of weight, I was slender before and at the time these symptoms arose. And after dealing with the symptoms for several months I asked the doctor about my situation and he believed it was from stress and anxiety. And insisted I get on anti-depressants before he even did any bloodwork! So I did and they did nothing but make matters worse and cause me to gain a substantial amount of weight. Also if it was anxiety wouldn't the symptoms wax and wane? With this I feel the visual problems are constant 24/7. I never had a weight problem prior to being on anti-depressants. I am about 50 lbs overweight at the moment, I'm a Male at 5'11 and 235 lbs. And I have a very active/physical job in construction so I get plenty of exercise and have been fit, healthy, and active most of my life.

I have one aunt who was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 year ago at the age of 70. And my grandpa developed diabetes in his 60's I believe. So there is some family history there. Also I believe my grandma had a problem with low blood sugar, but that might have been from some medication she was on.

The blood sugar test they did I'm not sure if it was fasting or something else, the nurse kind of did it on a whim so I guess I question the accuracy of the test. I'm pretty sure I didn't fast 8 hours before the test if I remember correctly. I've had extensive bloodwork done that have checked my thyroid, blood count, the works. Nothing shows up!

Thanks so much for the reply I just don't know where to go from here and I was just thinking possibly by some off chance maybe I have diabetes and they have just overlooked it all these years. So I was thinking if anybody with diabetes had similar symptoms that maybe I should get retested. If anybody has experienced there visual type disturbances please chime in.
Posted 2/14/2015 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Visual disturbances could be from a lot of things and that's the puzzle, so you have to narrow it down. I'm glad you've seen an ophthalmologist because that would be the first place to go.

If it's blood sugar-related, then you need blood tests, fasting and random. If you could know what your blood sugar is when you wake up and a couple of hours after you eat a meal, then you would know if that's the problem. If you can borrow a blood sugar meter, do that. If not, you can buy an inexpensive one at Walmart. Their own brand, ReliOn, has several different kinds. You have to buy the meter and the test strips because they're sold separately. I don't know about the lancet (the device that you use to prick your finger to draw the blood bead to test it).

On the other hand, my daughter's vision was disturbed after she was in a minor accident when her head went forward to the steering wheel. She had something also hard to explain: not quite double vision but 'out of body' feeling. The eye doctor told her it was from the sudden jarring of the accident. I can't remember the term she used. Anyway, it did go away after a week or two and she didn't have to have therapy. It seemed to be throughout the day. So, if you have had any kind of head injury or head trauma (sudden jerking, etc.), it could be related to the vision disturbance. However, it was the optometrist that examined her and diagnosed it.

Sorry if it seems to go back to square one. The unknown here would be what your blood sugar is then. And, yes, I've read that some anxiety meds cause weight gain. ugh.
Posted 2/20/2015 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
For me yes. And weight gain from insulin. Is this normal?
Posted 2/24/2015 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Just want to say thanks for the long and in-depth response LanieG. I do think I will take your advice and buy a blood glucose meter and check my blood sugar level a few times a week and see where it stands. I've never had any head trauma and the more I think about it I did notice the symptoms slowly coming on. Like at times I would feel slightly dizzy and all out of whack for a while but then I would feel better. This went on for several months until one morning when I woke up and felt weird and the symptoms seem to have never left.

Pez927 I'm not sure what you are asking?
Posted 2/24/2015 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
(I believe pez was responding to my comment about some meds causing weight gain.)

You can buy one of the ReliOn meter from WalMart. They're inexpensive. The box of test strips cost about $9. Also when you're at your doctor's office for any reason, you might ask them to test your blood sugar. Random testing might be an insight. Hard to know but it's probably wise to look into this.
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