oh bugger - diabetic retinopathy.

[dilbertina]

I have had Type 1 diabetes for 6 years, am currently pregnant with number 3. Am reasonably well controlled pregnant or not and have always sailed through annual retinal photos with no problem. Have had 3 photos done this pregnancy, first 2 fine but just got letter saying signs of background retinopathy in third. They don't want to see me again for a year so hardly currently a major problem.....but but but... I had kind of persuaded myself that what with developing type 1 later in life than most and having reasonable control I would escape complications for a bit longer than this. Sympathy please! (anyone had background retinopathy for years and not needed treatment? [hopeful!]

Poor you. I hope it goes well. I once got diagnosed with background retinopathy in one eye. The following appointment before I even asked about it I got a nurse who looked through the eye thing and said "I can see your diabetes has been really bad". Since I had spent the previous year under rigid control in preparation of TTC I was both highly offended and very upset. They then made me wait another 6 months to see the consultant who examined my eyes and asked if I had astigmatism. I pointed out the specs and he said it was a mistaken diagnosis. Maybe the same will happen to you.

They say that eyes are one of the things that can go with pregnancy which is why they monitor but equally it might go back to normal once the baby is out and hormones settle down.

It's not a reflection on you or your control. I've had it for nearly 26 years now (and I'm under 30), variable control for large chunks and thank god no side effects yet. A friend of mine got bad retinopathy after 8 years, diagnosis pre-10. She had an operation and has been fine since. I know of others who had perfect control yet developed complications. Sadly there's no way of predicting what will happen and you can just try and do your best and enjoy life at the same time.