Dale,
On a slightly different tack, I was jarred by your statement that your mother has diabetes, and your BP is slightly high. Sounds too much like my own situation actually.
Over the last 4-5 years or so, I noticed my eyesight (both eyes) getting progressively worse and had to get new prescriptions about every 18months.
I was a pilot most of my life (from 17 to 54ish) and my eyes were my treasures. I wore glasses for a year when I was 7 or 8 then never did again until my early 50s. Also about then my BP started inching up. Some of it no doubt had to do with a marriage breaking down, but there were other physical/internal things happening as well that I wasn't aware of.
Last October (2006) I unexpectedly found myself visiting an ER in Seattle because of chest pains and dizziness... I came out of the experience with a diagnosis of diabetes with extremely high blood glucose, and quite high BP. I went on some meds, changed my diet dramatically (went on a very low carb diet) and as of now, 4.5 months later I am down 25 lbs, my BP is acceptable and my doctor told me the other day "If this was your first visit and you had the blood glucose you have now, I would say you are not diabetic." I am not completely out of the woods, there are still some heart related things that need tending, but overall I feel like I am on the way back from a pretty dreary place. (And I am so comitted to taking my 12 yr old son hunting this fall, that even with the occassional back-slide I manage to regain focus and get stubborn about becoming fit again!)
Since October I have spent a lot of time educating myself on diabetes, inuslin resistance, and how even a slightly high blood glucose level can do harm over a period of time (particularly to blood vessels -including, but not restricted to, those in one's eyes)... or at least it did to me.
What I am getting at is that I had diabetic (or pre-diabetic) things going on for a number of years and didn't pay attention because I didn't know the potential negative effects of them, and didn't even know they were related to diabetes [nor did any doctors inform me] at the time. Note that I said "potential" - I am not suggesting that it is a concern for everyone, however I would urge you to have a good eye exam, and some blood tests with the idea of checking your blood glucose situation. There is growning evidence that elevated glucose levels (even slight) for a period of time have an affect on the functioning of virtually all vital organs, not to mention the heart and vascular system.
My mother has been diabetic for at least 20 years. It never seemed possible to me all those years that I would end up with the same thing. I was just too fit, active and healthy - and I was pretty much until I semi-retired in 2002... but there appears to be a genetic factor involed as well.
Anyway, on the positive side, besides all the weight loss, BP, blood glucose stuff that is going pretty well, my eyes actually got better. Just around Thanksgiving (first year I did NOT have mashed potates and gravy or yams because of the carbs
) I thought I'd have to get new glasses, but that seems to have reversed and I pretty much only wear them for driving now (because it says on my licence I am supposed to). They do get tired some days, particularly if I am at the computer for a long time, but overall I am pleased to have most of 'em back.
If you would like some info on diabetes related stuff (and it will surprise most people) contact me off forum and I'll put you on to some websites. And bottom line, absolutely have a thorough eye exam, and mention the diabetic connection. And even if your eye situation has nothing to do with diabetes, the fact that your mother is diabetic is a risk factor for you having other possible stuff going on..
It may not actually turn out to be an issue for you like it was/is for me... but it is worth checking out. If I had been more educated about the potential stuff I was risking 5 or 10 years ago, I could have prevented much of the hassle and $$ I went through.
Ain't hindsight a wonderful thing...
Cheers
Kerry
