blurred vision - Diabetes Message Board

bjk47 · 03-19-2001, 03:33 PM

I have been having blurred vision on and off the last several weeks. I have been checking my blood sugars and the times my vision is blurred does NOT corrolate to high sugars.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks

Oldguy · 03-19-2001, 06:38 PM

Hi BJ,
___Even tho your sugar is not high at the time, it does not mean that diabetes is not damaging your eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is common after an extended period of having the disease. The best way to find out is to see a good optometrist or other eye doctor or surgeon.
___I give my wife aminoguanidine hcl, 300mg/daily in order to prevent this and kidney problems. My source is no longer in business and I am desperately seeking another source. It is a common medicine prescribed in Europe, but not in the U.S. due to our FDA. It has not been submitted to them for approval, but if you want to donate about 50 million for lab tests and possible bribery, you could likely get it approved. However, it's an old drug that cannot be patented, so you won't get any return on investment.
My wife was warned about her having a touch of it apparent in her retinas, so I scoured the internet and found a source. I also researched clinical trials and found that it is highly effective in delaying both of these events. I bought enough for about 6 months, but am now getting low. On her last trip to the optometrist, he found there was some reversal. I found one source, but my minimum order is 10 kilo's at $200/K...something I can't afford as yet.
___There is a substitute for this to some extent. L-arginine and vitamin B6 in combination. I will be researchin the dosage pretty soon if I can't find the AG. In fact, I may do this anyway...stay tuned to the boards....God bless,,,,Oldguy

Oldguy · 03-19-2001, 06:51 PM

Hello again Barb,
I noticed you're a nurse anesthetist; if you know what an iNos (induceable Nitric Oxide Synthase) inhibitor is then you'll know the function of aminoguanidine. Its the endogenously produced excess of NO (actually nitrogen monoxide incorrectly called nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, etc. in clinical papers), that destroys: retinal arteries, Islet cells in the pancreas, and the kidneys. Ask one of your doctor endocrinologists.

Hurry and have your eyes checked for retinal damage....Pray that you don't have it and I'll join you....Oldguy

spellin errors..tsk, tsk

[This message has been edited by Oldguy (edited 03-19-2001).]

bjk47 · 03-20-2001, 12:13 PM

Hi Oldguy,
Thanks for the info. I am not familure with this and will do some research and reading. I do have a scheduled eye appt. in the beginning of April. For as much as I know ,I am constantly learning how much I do not know. I know a lot about anesthesia and diabetes but that is limited as to the body of knowledge in treating this disease. Are you a doctor? I can't figure out how to check profiles. You seem so informed with indepth info. Thanks again, Barb

Oldguy · 03-20-2001, 04:15 PM

Hi Barb,
___No I'm not a doctor, but just a wannabe. Actually, I started in premed for 2 years and some credit hours, but changed to engineering, both mechanical, and electrical. But my love has always been medicine, physiology, and cellular biology. I do an awful lot of research. My wife gave me a lot of flack about my book investment, and time invested on the computer reading anything and everything in medical science. I generally don't get along with doctors right away because they take me as a threat, but after a while, we start to talk on the same wavelength. I have a PCP named Dr. Garcia who is so open minded that we discuss everything just like med students. He doesn't treat me as a Cro-Magnon.
___To check profiles, click on the profile square at the top of this post...God bless,,,Oldguy
___PS: I know very little about anesthesiology. Remember, a general practitioner is a doctor that know less and less about more and more, until he knows nothing about everything. Aspecialist is a doctor who knows more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing....WOW (words of wisdom).