Could I have diabetes and not know it/be missed by Dr? rubeosis iridis picked up during routine eye test

[mechanicalpencil]

I had a routine eye test yesterday and some blood vessels on my iris were picked up called rubeosis iridis. My eye pressures were 24 and 23.5 and I had a field test of which I don't know the results yet.

I have been referred to a specialist but in the meantime am very anxious. After some research online it seems this is very common with people with diabetes. I have been worried about having diabetes for a while and have mentioned this to the GP as I do have many of the symptoms:

• excessive and unquenchable thirst despite the fact I drink plenty of water everyday
• extreme fatigue
• frequent urination
• blurry vision

other symptoms:

• eye pain/ache (eyeball)
• very slow urine stream
• increased frequency of migraines
• occasional dizzy spells

I had a full set of blood tests recently and a couple of things were highlighted, particularly low ferritin of 11 and elevated lipase. But most of the other things were fine. I had an ultrasound on the abdomen and everything seemed fine. The GP didn't really know what was wrong and said I am a bit of a mystery. They didn't seem to think it was diabetes.

I just wondered if you can have diabetes and not know it? or no symptoms until it is quite advanced? I am a generally fit and healthy female with a healthy diet.

I know I should wait to see the specialist but it will be 2 -4 weeks before I am seen so I really anxious and trying to distract myself with other things but any help or reassurance would be very welcome in the meantime.

thanks for reading

You can test for diabetes yourself by testing your urine for glucose. You can buy tests for this in pharmacies or online:
https://amzn.eu/d/3zkxiuA

Unless told otherwise I would try this at various points in the day (e.g on waking, an hour after eating and 2 hours after eating) and if you do find any glucose book a gp appt. If you find any glucose in there at all book an urgent gp appt and explain.

@aodirjjd thanks so much for posting, I didn't know this! I will get one tomorrow after work.

Did they do the blood glucose test when they tested your blood? It would be called the hba1c. Any result on that below 42 and you're ok. 42-48 is prediabetes, 49 or higher is diabetes.

The urine test strips are ok to use yourself, or if you can get access to a blood glucose monitor machine you can do a finger prick test, preferably first thing in the morning before breakfast. Anything above a 7 as a fasting result on the finger prick should raise alarms.

Your symptoms do sound like diabetes to me, I experienced most of them before I was diagnosed and started medication. But they could also be other things, so you could do with one of those hbac1 tests to decide definitely one way or the other.

A diy kit will only be as good as the reading at that point in time. Glucose levels naturally fluctuate. Go to gp or anp and explain your symptoms , for potential diabetes or prediabetes they should order an hba1c blood test to look at your levels over a longer period.

Did they test your HbA1c?

I have already been to the GP to say I was worried about diabetes. They did a full blood test which came back "Satisfactory" and so I assumed all was well.

I will check the app to see if the hba 1c was done.

Blurry vision, eye pain, migraines, dizziness. All common with high eye pressure. Did you tell the opticians of these symptoms?

Did they say you would be fast tracked to the eye clinic?

There is a "Plasma Glucose Level" of 4.6 mmol/L

but doesn't seem to be anything called hba 1c.

Not sure if it's the same thing?

@justasking111 yes, I told her all these symptoms. She seemed quite concerned and was asking lots of questions, including had I had a recent blood test, about my migraines and eye symptoms.

She said to expect a letter in the next 2-4 weeks so I assume that it has been fast-tracked...

They also said I had developed mild myopia.

My Pressure has been over 30, opticians couldn't even measure it. It reached 57 one time. There's lots the eye clinic can do, drops for a start. It's really important to take care of your eyes now they've identified a problem.

The diabetes testing is under the GP so for them to check. As are other tests. You'll have bloods as well I expect.

Was it a fasting blood test? 4.6 is well within normal range

@LIZS no, I wasn’t told to fast beforehand. It as done first thing in the morning after breakfast.

Thanks @justasking111 , yes I will be more vigilant about eye tests now. My last one was 5 years ago.
57 is extremely high for eye pressure, that must have been very worrying. I hope you managed to get it under control. Did they find out the cause?

So fasting would be even lower.

@LIZS thanks,that is reassuring.

The cause is malignant glaucoma. Which is caused by my eye balls being rugby ball shaped and fluid not running the right way. It collects behind my eyes pushing them out. I've had lasers and six operations. I have four lots of eye drops twice a day. That optician saved my sight.

@justasking111 sorry to hear that, it must have been a very worrying time for you.
Glad to hear it’s under control now.

Since you have so many classic diabetes symptoms I'd ask for the HBA1C. That gives a picture of what your blood sugar levels are like over the prior 2-3 months. Your plasma glucose was normal (which is great!), but even someone with diabetes won't always have a high glucose level. Sometimes it can swing very high and very low. The A1C provides an "average".