Insulin resistance confusion

[valina555]

Hi everyone!
I was diagnosed with pcos and insulin resistance a long time ago. I was not on medications and kept it under control with diet. In the meantime i had 2 children and am trying to get back on track, specially weight wise.
I was on low carb diet but i cant lose any weight. Any other diet has too many carbs and make my sugar too high.
My question is, can i get treatment (like metformin) if my fasting glucose is below 6 but all my post meal (when i have any carb) values are 8-9 and stay this high for longer than 4hours after the meal? I talk about a normal meal (for example: chicken, salad, and a small portion of rice).
lf i follow a regular diet (as suggested by a dietitian) my values will be continously high throughout the whole day.

Any suggestion or life experience is appreciated!

 

[AndBreathe]

Have you had a recent HbA1c test to assess your current status?

I understand Metformin can be prescribed for PCOS, but I believe only by an Endocrinologist, as opposed to your GP. otherwise, I don't believe your doctor would prescribe Metformin if you are not diabetic.

If you see an Endo for your PCOS, you could ask him/her next you see them, or conversely update your HbA1c and use that as a starting point for a discussion with your GP. For either discussions, it probably makes sense to keep records of both blood scores and an accurate food diary.

 

[valina555]

That test will be ok because i am on low carb since i stopped nursing (october). I had that before pregnancy and was 4.2

 

[AndBreathe]

That test will be ok because i am on low carb since i stopped nursing (october). I had that before pregnancy and was 4.2

4.2 isn't the usual way of expressing the HbA1c. That's usually a bigger number, like 37 or 73. If your HbA1c was 4.2, it would reflect your bloods being ultra low a lot of the time.

 

[valina555]

Probably other parameters

 

[Bluetit1802]

That 4.2 sounds more like a fasting blood glucose test, and would put you in the normal non-diabetic range.

If you are seeing 8's and 9's for 4 hours after a meal regularly, this will show up on an HbA1c test as this is an average of your levels over the previous 2 to 3 months. I do suggest you ask for this test. It may just put your mind at rest.

 

[valina555]

The test will give the results of me being on low carb! So in range.
I would have to be on normal carb (200/day, now i am on 20) diet for 3 months to have an accurate reading.
Pcos is a *****

 

[AndBreathe]

The test will give the results of me being on low carb! So in range.
I would have to be on normal carb (200/day, now i am on 20) diet for 3 months to have an accurate reading.
Pcos is a *****

I seriously doubt you will be able to persuade a medic to prescribe Metformin if your bloods are well in the normal reange. Low-carbers can have raised HbA1cs, unfortunately. If you eat and your bloods stay at those levels for 3 or 4 hours after a meal, that adds up to quite a few hours. Even if you only have threshold carbs once a day, then you have 4 hours a day with higher than desired bloods - that will be reflected.

I think you really need to go and have a discussion with your Doc about this. The portfolio of conditions that often go together can sometimes make things less cut and dried. Personally, I have been passionate about remaining meds-free, so I struggle to understand why anyone would want to be prescribed something that might meddle with their innards (side effects), when the drug you want won't make a big difference to your bloods anyway. It.

How many carbs are you eating a day, and can you try going any lower, for research purposes, if nothing else?

 

[valina555]

I am on 20-30/day. I am not losing any weight even while excercising every day. I webt to the dietitian because my husband has diabetis and she was so shocked in being on 20g and that the normal low carb is a 100. I cant even have an apple without having it spike like that. That is not a normal situation. I have out of control hair growth, gaining weight and not over eating (800kcal day), loss of vision, trouble focusing, pelvic pains, high blood pressure. All while being on low carb. It just doesnt work anymore. Pcos leads to cancer when untreated, not "might lead", it is a serious condition. Unfortunately i live in a country where it is not recognised as such.

 

[AndBreathe]

I am on 20-30/day. I am not losing any weight even while excercising every day. I webt to the dietitian because my husband has diabetis and she was so shocked in being on 20g and that the normal low carb is a 100. I cant even have an apple without having it spike like that. That is not a normal situation. I have out of control hair growth, gaining weight and not over eating (800kcal day), loss of vision, trouble focusing, pelvic pains, high blood pressure. All while being on low carb. It just doesnt work anymore. Pcos leads to cancer when untreated, not "might lead", it is a serious condition. Unfortunately i live in a country where it is not recognised as such.

I sympathise on the PCOS; it's a very unpleasant condition.

The guidance for prescribing Metformin may be different where you are; I based my comment on the UK.

If you are only eating 800 calories, your body may have gone into starvation mode, which would impact on weight loss 9and obviously your underlying metabolism). In your shoes, I might be inclined to up the calories for a couple of weeks (literally), but increasing the calories using fat; so it's only a modest piece of cheese or cream in coffee, rather than a wholesale new eating regime, and see if that helps nudge your body to perform in a more agreeable way. Do you keep a food diary that keeps an accurate record of all you eat and drink?

But, in terms of the bigger picture, I still think you need to be talking with your doctor. He/she is your gateway to pharmaceutical or specialist medical intervention. have you ever seen an Endocrinologist?

 

[valina555]

I did when i lived abroad and i was put on metformin. I thought it was too drastic and went low carb. Then i became pregnant ( y gtt values at 1h was 12 and at 1.5 was 13 but at 2 was 7.9 which put me back in range and had no gd according to gp and midwives) and now i am evaluating what to do. But diet doesnt work anymore. I should count my fats too but i generally put more oil in my salad or 1tb of coconut oil in my coffee.

 

[AndBreathe]

I did when i lived abroad and i was put on metformin. I thought it was too drastic and went low carb. Then i became pregnant ( y gtt values at 1h was 12 and at 1.5 was 13 but at 2 was 7.9 which put me back in range and had no gd according to gp and midwives) and now i am evaluating what to do. But diet doesnt work anymore. I should count my fats too but i generally put more oil in my salad or 1tb of coconut oil in my coffee.

Some recent thinking is looking at up to 80% of your daily energy coming from fat. Are you anywhere near that? Do you keep a record of everything you eat and drink?

Would you consider trying to knock your body out of starvation mode?

 

[valina555]

In october/november i had 5 carbs/ 75 fat. At the moment i am trying to eat as suggested by the dietist, so i can show my log of food and glucose values to the gp. I have serious trouble seeing, i dont even dare to drive. I will go from there, but i am extremerly frustrated.

 

[valina555]

That is % nor g

 

[Brunneria]

Well, as a fellow PCOSer, I sympathise with the insulin resistance, increased chance of weight gain, and all the attendant extra fun and games it gives.

But PCOS does not inevitably lead to cancer. It causes an increased risk of some types of cancer.

And a low carb, ketogenic diet is good for the starvation of cancer cells - since they live on glucose.

I agree with the others that you should ask for an hba1c test to be carried out.
In the UK metformin is regularly prescribed for PCOS patients. I have had 3 different people (consultants and a doc) offer it to me. I don't currently take it, although I agree that it can be beneficial.

 

[Bluetit1802]

And a low carb, ketogenic diet is good for the starvation of cancer cells - since they live on glucose.

.

Not all of them by any means. My breast cancer cells lived on HER2, a human growth protein along with 15% of other BC cancers. Most breast and gynae area cancers live on Oestrogen and/or Progesteron. I've no idea about other types of cancer cells.

 

[Brunneria]

Not all of them by any means. My breast cancer cells lived on HER2, a human growth protein along with 15% of other BC cancers. Most breast and gynae area cancers live on Oestrogen and/or Progesteron. I've no idea about other types of cancer cells.

Thanks for the correction.
I was going by the various media stories I have read about cancer cells growing faster in the presence of glucose.

I also refuse to live in fear of cancer simply because I have PCOS.
And I sincerely hope that other people do not feel they need to live in fear of it either.

 

[CheekyAngel]

I was diagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago and never once was I prescribed Metformin, after each visit to the docs and asking for it, they all refused and said it is no longer prescribed for patients with PCOS. I'm hoping my appointment on Monday is positive and that doc puts me on it. I've been on Orlistat for last 3 weeks & personally think it is pointless as do not have a high fat diet

 

[jack412]

you may need to check your protein intake ..it may be too high if you low carb and not lose weight.

I would go keto

Dr Eric C. Westman, MD and president elect of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, has 15 years of experience helping patients lose weight and improve their health using low carb. He has also helped do several high-quality scientific studies on low carb.
" Don't do low carb low fat "

 

[CheekyAngel]

My HbA1c when i had it done in January was 45, which i believe is right on the borderline for Diabetes, but still Doctor won't prescribe Metformin. Does anyone know if there is an alternative to Metformin that i can get?