Insulin Resistance

[Iliana]

Hi
Im sorta confused about the whole insulin resistance thing, what is it? I can never seem to make sense of it...

Thanks
Mariyam
x

[Annoldie]

Hi Mariyam, I think the fact that no one has replied to you, says something about how difficult it is to explain what it is! Basically it means that your body is not using Insulin efficiently so it produces higher than normal levels to compensate. If this is not treated then in the long term you are likely to become a diabetic - your pancreas gets worn out with the over production of insulin so that it doesn't make enough. It cannot be cured but a low Gi diet, plenty of exercise and losing weight help to control it, as does treatment with the diabetic medicine Metformin. There is quite a lot more to it and if you can get your head round it you will be able to deal with your pcos better in the long term. I found it helpful to get one of the books about pcos and keep dipping into it until the pennies dropped. " PCOS for Dummies " - is about the easiest and not too expensive. (sorry if that sounds a bit patronizing, it's not meant to be!) Hope that helps a bit. Ann

[Iliana]

lol thanks Ann. That is helpful actually, managed to understand what it is atlast! I'll have to get that book lol and it doesn't sound patronizing ^^'
Thanks again!

Mariyam
x

[shelokay]

i read it as in childhood you over produce insulin slightly, as insulin is a poison in the wrong doses, then ur body starts build a defence and starts to resist the insulin. the thing is they dont yet know what may trigger the overproduction of insulin in childhood. 1 theory is that your are just born with a faster working pancreas.
So once you have insulin resistance then when you eat something ur insulin comes and gets the energy to take to ur muscles, and ur muscles turn it away, so the only way to get rid of it is to add it to ur fat supplies (fat supplies being non used energy)
so normal metabolism should take energy to muscles, muscles use eneergy, then what isnt used is then taken and stored as fat.
so with IR the brain thinks hold on i sent out insulin but we have no energy so i couldnt of sent enough, so it then sends out more insulin nd u end up with too much insulin in the blood, and then this effects the production of the pituitary gland that then effects the production of the ovaries...
so when u eat high and fast energy foods like sugar and carbs then there is a huge release of insulin, and in IR another huge release once the brain thinks it hant sent enough...

so when ir people eat sugar and carbs instead of a sugar rush, u get a sugar crash.. and feel more tired and lethargic, which then makes u crave high energy food and so the vicious circle contines

[TinaD]

Hi Everyone

reading all the IR posts , think this could be one of my many symptoms (the worst one) - why I'm desperately trying to find a PCOS specialist. Been diagnosed about 6 yrs, but consultant doesn't sound convinced (which makes me wonder if I'm correctly diagnosed)?

Keep going back to consultant and have seen a new gp recently who is sending me for an ultrasound and has done more blood tests - not sure which they were (will ask when next see her).

My symptoms are shaking, mental confusion, my co-ordination goes haywire, headache and i feel really weak. Food usually makes it better, but sometimes whatever I eat doesn't make it go away - these are my worst days when i find it hard to function, don't feel safe to drive and just want to sleep. I also feel constantly hungy - but some days I feel fine. Could this be IR?

[Annoldie]

Tina, it sounds very like it to me. Could you ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist? Obstetric and Gynae consultants are not really specialists in the hormone problems outside the conception field.

[TinaD]

Thanks Annoldie for your reply, i'm new to the Discussion Board and it's great to know people are out there for help & support. I'll ask my gp when i next see her. I've just ordered the Low GL diet by Patrick Holford to try in the meantime. Take care.

[Annoldie]

Perhaps your GP could do a Glucose Tolerance Test to help with your diagnosis. Unfortunately a lot of GPs who are other wise very good, are not very well informed about PCOS so you may need to do some research yourself. Lots of info on this site of course but you might find one of the books helpful to dip into - e.g. The Ultimate PCOS Handbook. See the book list on this site. PCOS for Dummies is a bit more basic but cheaper and still very helpful. Ann ( I'm a Cheshire cat - Altrincham area)

[TinaD]

Thanks Ann for advice - isn't it frustrating trying to ask for certain tests without annoying them. Ive noticed the GGT test seems to be the one to ask for like you mention. The test i had done recently (plasma glucose) came back 'normal', but i will ask what the actual level was when i see gp and about a GGT test. I've got to go back to discuss the results after another ultrasound scan (got a cancellation tomorrow).

PCOS for Dummies sounds like my kind of book!, so i'll look out for that one. Got the other one you mentioned and a couple of others. I'll keep ploughing through them - such a delightful light read hey!

Thinking of giving the Metformin a try, but new gp (we moved house 2yrs ago) wants to confirm things before she perscribes it - don't know what i'll do if the scan and blood tests are all so called 'normal' after being surposedly diagnosed for years.

How long have you been in beautiful Scotland - do you ever miss Cheshire?

[Snaffles]

Hi Tina,

I suspected I was having problems with insulin/blood sugar levels so when I had to go to the GP (who had previously diagnosed me with PCOS) I mentioned the way I was feeling- which was exactly the same as you describe- and she sent me for tests. They showed that my blood glucose was high, but not abnormal. Some days I felt like I was dragging a carcass around and was pretty much a zombie. After seeing a few other unhelpful GP's I got to see the first one who agreed with me that I had a problem with insulin and put me on Metformin. I know some people have had loads of side effects with it, but it's worked beautifully for me. I'm not tired, have loads more energy and after all these years feel like a human again.

If you can get it prescribed then it's worth a go.

Sarah

[TinaD]

Hi Sarah

Thanks, i'm hoping to get Metformin perscribed by by gp and I really hope it helps the symptoms and maybe also help with the dreaded weight loss. Glad its working for you.

Did you have any weight to lose, if so, did the met help?

Had one of the constantly hungry days today!

Tina

[Snaffles]

Hi Tina,

yes, the met has helped me loads with the weight. It's also altered my shape. In the last 3 months of last year I put on 2 stone without altering what I did or ate. Became a total pear shape and topped the scales at 16 stone 9! So far this year I've lost a little over 2 stone (something I thought was impossible), started met just before New Year. I've taken up cycling again and the weight loss seems to have slowed a little, but I've built up far more toned legs. Am hoping the tales are true and that muscle weighs more than fat Still lost 3 inches from my waist in the last month tho.

Sarah

[TinaD]

Hi Sarah

Thanks for replying and glad you are doing well on the Metformin. That was interesting to hear that you have changed shape aswell as losing weight - I can't wait ! I'm just waiting for my test results to go back to gp before going to see her to ask for Metformin. I've also just started the Patrick Holford Low-GL diet which seems good so far. Keep up the cycling - take care

Tina

[TinaD]

Hi everyone - can't believe it, i'm back to square one. After years of gps and gynaes telling me my symptoms 'could be' this that and the other, then finally being diagnosed with PCOS about 6 years ago my new gp doesn't think I have PCOS!

Recently i moved house and not being happy with progress of gynae I went to new gp. I saw her yesterday to discuss results of new tests she requested before possibly perscribing Metformin. My scan showed no cysts and my bloods were ok apart from my FSH was high. Gp said i havn't got PCO and i said no i know as my gynae says I have PCOS (don't think she knew the difference!)

She also said she wouldn't perscribe metformin because my results show no indication of diabetes. I asked her about being tested for IR and she started to get irritated with me. She noticed that I am seeing a counceller and suggested all my symptoms could be caused by anxiety?!

I kept asking for her support as I cannot go on coping with all the symptoms, especially the shakiness and feeling faint every 2-3hrs after food. I asked to be referred to a endo as i am not happy with gynae and she disagreed and said she thought i should see gynae. I persisted and she reluctantly agreed but told me that I might never find anyone to solve my problems and reminded me that my probs could be linked with anxiety - the bloody cheek of the women!

I asked for help finding a endo who specialises/or has an interest in PCOS but she just said i would have to research this myself and if I was adament she could refer me to our local endo. I've checked him out on the doctorfoster website and there is no mention of PCOS - what should I do? Any suggestions anyone? Sorry for the long rant - its just so frustrating and i'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me and i'm somehow causing all the symptoms myself - perhaps i'm a hypochondriac?

[babygem]

You're absolutely right to feel indignant about how your GP treated you, Tina! Why is it that just because you may have some sort of psychologcal history everything is then put down to that - I can sympathise because I have had similar experiences over the years. It just seems like an easy way out for GPs to me.

Well done for standing up for yourself and insisting on the endo referral - I think this is the best move you can make in the circumstances. I think it would definitely be worth trying to find an endo with an interest in PCOS, and it sounds as though your GP is open to you doing this. This is exactly what I had to do myself because my GP had no idea who to refer me to. If you take just any referral you could end up back at square one.

If you can't find anyone local on the Dr Foster website, you could try specialistinfo.com - this is where I found my endo.

Also wanted to say your symptoms do sound like IR - i had the same ones - low GI diet, metformin and losing weight have helped.