optometrist versus ophthalmologist for diabetes

I was told in a diabetes class that with diabetes, you should go to an eye doctor who is a doctor, not go to a optometrist who is not an actual doctor.

Because optomitrists (non doctors) can not put drops in your eyes when testing your eyes for some condition.

Then I heard someone say, it doesn't make any difference, a diabetic can go to either one.

What's the word on that?

(I corrected the spelling in the subject line.)

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 2/3/2017 3:02:58 PM (GMT-7)

I appreciate that, Lanie.

The reason I asked was, I was fixing to call one or the other of those two today, and I had been wondering about that for a good while.

I have a friend who is an optometrist, who I had seen several times, and then was told in diabetes class that the doctor version of that was the best for diabetes.

So, I'm torn between my good friend, and the doctor version of the eye doctor. So, then I thought, HealilngWell has that diabetes forum that I've just been on a couple of times in the last day or two, ask there which is the better way to go.

I was really torn. But now I feel like I have an answer, so thank you very much.

Definitely ophthalmologist! Need checkup for eye disease, not just for vision correction!

Thanks for the help.

Now that I have found out which of the 2 types of eye doctors to get, I sat down at my computer for eye doctors in my area.

It took awhile, for I was looking for a particular type, then the phone calls, and when I found one I wanted the appt. soon, for my eyes have needed new glasses for awhile.

I have the appt. Feb. 17. Now I worry I waited too long to get new glasses, but for one thing, I didn't have the data about which type of doctor to get. So I hope this works out OK.

I agree with Lanie G. I was diagnosed with diabetes 11 years ago (just above the legal limit, but diabetes none-the-less), which by the way I worked myself out of with diet and exercise. Diabetes however, will always be something I have to work to avoid. Anyway, back then I also had glaucoma. I have gone to an ophthalmologist every 6 months to have my pressure monitored. Got the pressure in my eyes to the 14-16 range with SLT, a laser treatment than usually lowers pressure, done by an ophthalmologist. However, I still have to be checked every 6 months because the glaucoma can come back. Eyes are often neglected, but since diabetes and glaucoma run in my family, I have to keep on top of both. I suggest you make regular visits to the ophthalmologist too. It can't hurt!

Tim Tam, here is a site that has a weight chart for men: www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/ideal_bw_men.htm. And don't forget that your regular doctor should be able to give you more information about this.

Are you on diabetes medication? Cream of wheat will probably give you higher blood sugar readings. The ham is not the problem. If you had some scrambled eggs or an omelet with some vegetables and maybe some cheese, your blood sugar would also be lower.

If you're eating bread or potatoes with your meals (any meals), then your blood sugar will also be higher.

For testing you need to do it first things when you get up - that's fasting.

To see how your blood sugar reacts to the food you eat at any meal, you test right before you start eating and then about two hours after you finish. The second test will show you how high your blood sugar rose. If it rises a lot, then you know that you've eaten too many carbs.

Please read the link to the website that's in my signature for more information on blood sugar.

Yes, I did work my way out. Thank goodness I went to an Endocrinologist who didn't put me on medicine, but told me that I had two years to change my ways or there was nothing I could do. As I said, I was just over the legal limit, so we caught it early and I was able to do what needed to be done. It took me 4-6 months to get where I needed to be. The problem is after 8-10 years I was doing so good, I fell off the wagon. Guess what? My blood sugar started going up again. I was only in the pre-diabetic range, but above where I needed to be. So I got a second wake up call. Now I'm back on the straight and narrow, and my blood sugar is good. For me it's not only cutting the sugar, but walking 10,000 steps a day.

So true Lanie! Everyone is different. A good diet and some level of exercise will give you positive benefits, even if it doesn't completely control your blood sugar, it's still a good thing to do. Just curious, you are such a wealth of info in this area, self taught or formal training?

Lanie:

Sorry to hear about your mother and grandmother.

You do seem to address this issue with a sense of urgency and purpose. Have you ever written any articles about this for health magazines or websites?

I think you'd be the right one to do that.

You say a blood sugar meter made you much more aware of high blood sugar levels, is that just a regular meter you use to test 2 or 3 times a day?

I don't take any medicines for diabetes.

Before breakfast today, my count was 115. Before lunch, it was 117.

OK, here's a note for you. In my health diary, I wrote down for Oct. 28, 2015, "161 fasting" and added "which was no carb day before."

Here's another note: Oct. 13, 2015 fasting b/s 165 (even though on the day before, I had "no fruit, no carbs, no sugar and my fasting b/s increased by 20 points (to 165)." (but no exercise the day before.)

Here's another note on July 30, 2015: "I've been on new diet (no carbs) for about 1 1/2 months and I've not lost 1 pound, but my b/s has gone up like 10 or more points, like almost 160 today {and 135 before this diet}." My weight on no carb diet on July 29, 2015, was 170.

Today, Feb. 2, 2017, off the carb diet, my weight has dropped 170 to 160. My b/s readings have dropped from from 145 and 160, to 115 before breakfast today and 117 before lunch.

Now, I will add this: about a year ago, I went from once around the block every day (often stopping for my dog) to 50% more walking non stop around the block.

The argument could be made, that the extra 400 yards walking non stop every day is the reason for my decrease in weight (170 to 160) and decrease in my blood sugar (c. 140 to c. 120) even though I was not on no-carb diet during this decrease.

So, this increased exercise seems to be helping more than the non-carb diet. Perhaps non-carb diet and increased exercise could help even more.

Also I want to add, taking my b/s before lunch (111) instead of before breakfast (150 today), makes me look like a champion.

How to explain this sudden drop in b/s when all I've done is take my b/s at a different part of the day?

Well Lanie, you have taught yourself well and are a great resource for all of us. My grandmother and aunts had diabetes. My mother was determined not to get it and she didn't with diet and exercise. She was my inspiration to do the same. Thanks for all your help.

Tim Tam, I think you need to understand what carbs are in food. Oatmeal, regular milk, bread, beans and pop corn all have carbs. All that food come in packages, so you can read the labels for the carb content.

An example of breakfast might be: scrambled eggs with cheese and turkey bacon, or an omelet with mushrooms and some pieces of bell pepper or bacon.

Lunch could be: chicken salad with a couple of celery sticks or a "cheese puff" (I'll explain that below.), or a green salad topped with chicken and cheese or bacon and an oil and vinegar or lemon juice dressing

Dinner could be: any piece of meat/chicken/fish and a couple of vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, or bell peppers

Snacks could be: a hard-boiled egg, a slice of cheese and some peanut butter or nuts, artificially sweetened yogurt.

Have you read the link in my signature? It has a lot of information about blood sugar and there is a search box on the first page so you can find different things.

After you click on that link in my signature, click on the red subtitle "Site Summary....". That's a good place to start on that website. I think that would be helpful to you to learn about what foods you should eat and what to avoid as far as carbs.

Well, my goodness! Cataract surgery is not difficult these days, I understand. With today's technology, it's very quick but I think they do one eye at a time. Make sure you follow their instructions afterwards.

I guess I thought you had an appointment with an ophthalmologist - what happened? In any case, please make sure that your eye pressure is tested. This is for glaucoma.

Good luck with the cataract surgery!