hi Jen, we are so glad you've joined the community! I think that discussion here
https://forum.tudiabetes.org/topics/worst-diabetic-ever-needs-help
is so helpful and shows the true spirit of TuDiabetes. thanks for reminding me of it. Now if you want to feel a lot less alone with your retinopathy, please watch this video of our live interview with Dr Wong
http://www.tudiabetes.org/video/tudiabetes-live-interview-with-retina-specialist-randall-wong-md
Retinopathy is a lot more common in us who've had it more than 20 years than you might think. Dr Wong assured us that if they catch it early enough, blindness rarely is the end result. I had my laser almost 25 years ago, and my retina guy recently told me that as long as I keep my a1c reasonable, he doesn't see me having any more problems because of it.
So, have they scheduled you for laser or anything else? Please let us know, we want to be right there next to you (virtually) if you have to get something like that done. I can also point you to some discussions/groups for whatever procedure you might have to get. let me know if you need anything. I've been here for 5years, and I tell people all the time how much it changed my life.