It was the 6th of December 1998 when I, a Southern-Italian 12 years old boy, was about to get the toughest life-changing news of my life to date. I had no idea what the doctor was talking about but can clearly remember the face of my parents bursting into tears after my first ever finger prick at the hospital. Something must be pretty bad I thought: daddy never cries… he is not like mom! It didn’t take me too long either, probably less than an ‘educational’ week, to realise that the words “type I diabetic” were far scarier than they sounded at first. They brought along a terrible, hidden fear common to many of ‘us’: diabetes complications!

The nursing team kept reassuring me every day I spent for my first hospitalisation: “nothing bad will happen if you take care of yourself, surely not for the first 5-10 years and by that time there is going to be a cure and you won’t have to worry any longer”. I had to believe this was the truth as the thought of losing a leg or running into dialysis or even worse losing my sight at a young age was a horrible pill to swallow. I left the hospital promising to myself that I’d have done everything I could to hold on safe and sound. But 5 years passed and then 10 while that fear was still living inside me or actually growing since time kept going like on a ticking bomb. A lot more exhausted but still in good shape, I decided that it was better to take action rather than wait. Passionate about electronics I devoted my professional career to medical technology and lucky enough, after my PhD studies, I came across PolyPhotonix at a time they were looking for a young medical scientist. Bingo: what was best for me than embracing the right environment to contribute to removing probably the scariest of diabetes complications: retinopathy?

PolyPhotonix taught me that treating retinopathy was possible without delivering any pain, risking collateral effects, or adding more effort to an already overwhelming life as a diabetic. I had chance to deeply understand how sound science behind Noctura 400 is and reinsure myself on its safe use analysing clinical trial data. Very soon I had no doubt that Noctura 400 would have been a game changer not only in treating but also in preventing diabetic retinopathy. FIFTEEN years into diabetes, it was not difficult for me to make the right choice: using Noctura 400 to remove one of the main factors leading to the development of retinopathy. FIVE years into Noctura 400, I can confirm that choice was the right one both as a scientist and a diabetic patient. I have still no retinopathy signs whatsoever, in none of my eyes, and as well as that I’ve been sleeping far more relaxed nights. Noctura 400 calms down my senses with its soft green glow when I fall asleep and, more than anything, it has removed that fear of mine to face one day probably the scariest of diabetes complications.

Diabetes goes unfortunately only one way and complications along with it; but thankfully innovation too! A solution has been made real, now it’s your choice… what are you waiting for?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1994. So I’ve had it 23 years now.

I started with the Noctura mask in October 2016, having crowd funded to raise the money to afford it. I’m a self employed massage therapist, working with the disabled and people with chronic health conditions, also dementia.

I had been diagnosed with pre-prolific retinopathy and macular oedema, which they wanted to laser. My first three months with the mask I learnt only had contact with my eyes 48% of the time. So I tightened it. Next six months 95 and 98% respectively. I also worked hard at bringing my blood sugars down, from an HbA1c of 64 to 57, using pycnogenol and a lot of spinach, as advised!

I went with trepidation to my next appointment at the eye clinic, was surprised and over the moon to discover my macular oedema had almost gone, and my pre-prolific retinopathy was now moderate and stable!! Over the moon didn’t come close!! No treatment needed, they said!! I will carry on with the mask as long as I can raise the money to afford it, and am so incredibly grateful I heard about it… on Facebook of all places!!

As a Type 1 Diabetic for over 38 years, retinopathy had become a major concern.  This past April, after fifteen years of mild/moderate retinopathy,  I was told that that my left eye had advanced to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. When I was originally diagnosed with mild retinopathy, my A1C was in the mid 6 range and I was troubled that I could get eye disease with an A1C within a nearly normal range.  Fortunately, I stayed in the mild range for over 10 years – then moderate non-proliferative for nearly 5 years. Recently, when told that the retinopathy had progressed to proliferative with slight leakage and hemorrhaging behind my left eye, the ophthalmologist stated that if it got worse laser treatment would be the best option. I wanted to avoid laser treatment at all costs having learned of some serious side effects such as loss of peripheral and night vision.

In an effort to gather as much information as possible, I created a Diabetes Retinopathy and Eye Solutions page on Facebook. Soon after the page was up and running, I connected with a man named Jacob from Chicago who had told me about the Noctura 400 mask and its benefits. It sounded like an option that was non invasive and hopeful.  The complicating factor in getting the mask was that it was not FDA approved and could only be bought in England! After much research, I traveled to London from my home in the United States. I believed, based on my research, the Noctura 400 therapy would offer me the fastest results.  It took only a few days to get used to wearing the mask and it is now very comfortable to wear at night.

I am happy to report that when I went to my next appointment to get my eyes screened, I was told that my retinopathy had been reduced nearly 50%, no more hemorrhaging and the leakage had slightly improved as well. Working diligently to get my A1C below 6.5%, eating a low carb diet with a lot of vegetables and the use of the Noctura 400 have worked together to improve my eye health in a short period of time. Members of my Facebook community, who are using the same steps, are also seeing major improvements in a very short period of time. The process of getting the mask could not have been easier as the folks at PolyPhotonix and the Outside Clinic answered all of my questions, responded to my concerns quickly and consistently greeted me with enthusiasm and smiles. At one point I was terrified of the possibility of blindness, laser treatments and my health in general.  Today I feel like a new person with increased energy and optimism.  The Noctura 400 is largely responsible for this new outlook and I am deeply grateful to the staff at PolyPhotonix, the Outside Clinic and Noctura 400!

After having had my diabetic retinopathy treated by laser and injection with no sign of improvement I decided to try this form of treatment. At my next three monthly appointment with my hospital ophthalmologist I informed him of my intention to pursue this form of treatment. He raised no objection to this, stating that he would be interested in the results of such a treatment.

To date I have now been using the mask for some ten months and am now in my fourth 12 week period of its use. At the end of each 12 week period the pod inside the mask is replaced by my appointed optician, scans are taken and the results discussed.

In addition during this time I’ve had two three monthly appointments with my hospital ophthalmologist. At the second of these he informed me that the latest hospital scans had shown an improvement in my condition and that my next appointment with him would now be in nine months time rather than the three it had been hitherto.

I believe that the use of the mask has not only helped halt the retinopathy but has also been a major factor in reducing its effect.

There are two other issues that I feel I should mention before I finish: firstly, if you are a CPAP user and wear a nasal mask at night for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea then don’t worry about wearing the Noctura mask – it fits comfortably above the nasal mask and, secondly, I don’t have to buy any new spectacles for my short sightedness – I can now see just as well without them!

I already have hearing loss as a result of diabetes so there were worries about losing sight as well.

The sleep mask gave me hope at a very bad time. I had worried out losing vision and not being able to drive or even read a book. You naturally have fears about that loss of freedom.

Since starting to wear the sleep mask, my optician has noticed that both eyes have improved. It’s given me hope that the deterioration in my eyes has been arrested.

I was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 30 years ago. I had been feeling very unwell. I was a nurse, so I knew exactly what it was, but I just didn’t want to hear the diagnosis.

When I was first diagnosed, I had to inject insulin morning and night, along with eating carbohydrates at a certain time of day. I now have an insulin pen, which has given me much more freedom.

I’m already dependent on hearing aids as a result of diabetes. I was diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy five years ago. My consultants said that if my eye condition did worsen, the damage already done was too close to the optic nerve, so they would only inject if they really had to.

I’ve since had laser treatment and injections in the right eye, but nothing at all in the left, other than the mask. I’ve been told there has been improvement in the left, which has given me hope that the sleep mask is working.

When you go for check-ups as a diabetic, you’re told to improve your lifestyle to improve your control of the condition and stop it deteriorating. But, I was already doing everything right. I have a good diet, I walk 20 miles a week and I check my blood sugar.

My fear was that I was already doing everything I could to help myself and my eyes were still getting worse. To have this preventative treatment, which could stop further eye damage, is a huge relief.

I was fit as a butcher’s dog when I was diagnosed with diabetes 45 years ago. I played football and county level squash. I had lost a bit of weight for no reason and I had an excessive thirst. I was an HGV driver and I used to drink bottles and bottles of lemonade every day.

Once I was diagnosed, I was in hospital for two weeks to make sure my condition was stabilised and I knew how to manage it.

Since then, I’ve gone religiously to diabetes clinics. I take my blood sugar twice a day and, at the moment, it’s pretty good as it’s in single figures. You live by mealtimes and have to eat decent food at regular intervals. I do my exercises religiously for what is left of my legs and springs and weights for my upper body.

I now rely on a wheelchair after losing both legs because of diabetes. I lost my left leg eight years ago below the knee and, then two-and-a-half years ago, they operated on the right leg, amputating above the knee because of poor circulation in my toes.

I’m in a wheelchair but I do have a prosthetic left leg and I’m going to have a right leg fitted too, so I am hoping I will walk again. The more difficult it is for me to get around, the harder it is for my wife Mabel.

Losing your legs obviously does hit you hard but I think the toughest thing for me was losing my driving license because of poor peripheral vision.

I’ve lost count of the number of laser treatments I’ve had. Every time you have laser treatment, it causes scaring. There are so many white scars on my left eyeball, it looks like a golf ball, although my right eye isn’t as bad.

I hope the sleep mask can stop any further damage. Diabetes ruins your life. It has already taken my legs and I don’t want it to take my eyes as well.

“I just wish I’d known about the mask earlier before the damage to my eyes happened.”

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was 12 and was told five years ago during a routine eye examination that I had developed eye disease.

It’s terrifying to be told you have retinopathy. A million scary thoughts go through your head about losing your sight. I’m only 40 and I have children; Libby, 11, Jake, 14 and Connor, 16. I want to be able to see them grow up; to see their wedding days.

I was diagnosed with diabetes after displaying the classic symptoms of needing to visit the bathroom more often and I had a raging thirst.

I would buy drinks from other pupils in the playground for extortionate amounts because I was so thirsty. I was tired and had no inclination to go out. It was coming up to a school trip and my mum took me to the doctors as I’d been under the weather. I ended up being in hospital for two weeks learning all about diabetes control.

There’s always an awareness there but I still do everything everyone else does. If you never had a drink or a burger, life would be pretty boring.

A check-up picked up some issues at the back of my eyes when I was 35. Since then I’ve had several bleeds in my eyes and at least five laser treatments. Every time I went back, I was told I needed more surgery.

It’s not pleasant. The first time isn’t too bad but once you have scaring from previous treatments, it becomes very painful. The laser treatment is designed to stop the bleeds, but it also burns off part of the retina and, if they make a tiny mistake, you could lose your sight.

I wasn’t happy about the amount of laser surgery and I ended up being transferred to Moorfields Eye Hospital. After doing some research, I made the decision to use the Noctura 400 mask.

After three months, my consultant at Moorfields said he’d seen a regression. There’s been no new growth and I haven’t had to have any more laser treatments.

I enjoy motorcycling as a hobby and I drive for work as a roofing manager, so you worry about your livelihood. I want to see my three kids grow up, live their lives and get married.

When I was first diagnosed with retinopathy, it was very much doom and gloom. No one could tell me that I would definitely still be able to see my children in 10 years’ time. Now, I finally feel hopeful again. I just wish I’d known about the mask earlier before the damage to my eyes happened.

I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes around 25 years ago. I had lost a lot of weight and I could have drunk the seas dry, so I recognised what the symptoms were. It is the lifestyle changes that get to you, particularly as my three children were young at the time and I was working as a childminder.

I had to have four or five insulin injections a day and you have to eat at certain times of the day. I was pretty good at spotting the symptoms if my blood sugar levels were low. You have to make sure you’re looking after yourself when you’re looking after children. I do pilates and zumba and I walk a lot, so I try to make sure I’m doing the right things.

I developed Diabetic Retinopathy 15 years ago. At that point, I’d had a career change and was working as a florist. I was reaching up to get some flowers so I could put a bouquet together when blood suddenly burst up inside my right eye. It’s rare to actually be able to see a bleed so it was terrifying.

I had so many laser treatments to try to control the condition that I lost count. They were damaging my eyeballs to try to save my eyesight. The treatment has moved on but when I first started having it, the laser felt pretty hot. It’s not a pleasant experience.

I can’t drive anymore because of poor peripheral vision and I had to give up work because I was disorientated when using the phone, till and card machines.

I really did wonder if I would lose my sight completely. I have three children and my fifth grandchild Beatrix arrived a few weeks ago. Not being able to see my grandchildren was my worst fear. I also like reading, although I’ve had to buy a Kindle because of the small print in most books. I can’t see certain shades and tones like yellows and sometimes I can’t see the weeds until they get fairly big, but I still love gardening.

I read about the Noctura 400 in an article and contacted the makers. I get the mask through Wade Opticians and I’ve been using it for nine months. I don’t notice the glow at all while I’m wearing it.

I hoped the sleep mask would stabilise my condition. I didn’t expect I would have improvements, but I have. The biggest improvements came within the first three months. Since I started to wear the sleep mask, I’ve had no further laser treatment and no further bleeds. I’ve noticed I can now read labels and price tags when I’m out shopping, which I’d never have been able to do a few months ago.