• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Insulin Resistance

@bulkbiker and @shelley262 great results both of you. It is so encouraging to see how an understanding of how our bodies work can have such a positive outcome.
I haven’t signed up for the tests yet but thought I might after you posted your cholesterol test results @shelley262 Can I ask what dietary advice they gave you in the little recommendations box?
 
Hi just the standard stuff that you’d expect re lowering saturated fats etc! Must admit not sure I’m that convinced diet influences it that much. I’ve very much drifted back to more sat fat over past three months - I like them ! -after my attempt to reduce them initially and all that seems to have happened as I’ve gone back to them is that my LDL has gone down a bit and my HDL has gone up and trigs down a bit further. Think my rapid weight loss caused my initial big ldl rise which has settled but I also believe I’m a natural high general cholesterol person - as looking back in my medical records I tend to highish cholesterol and my HDL seems to have also been highish too but this is highest yet at 3.58 HDL. I also stopped the plant sterols as wasn’t convinced and seems to make little difference. Who knows and just hoping high cholesterol is protective so prob nothing to worry about. My mum has high cholesterol too and is 88 next month who knows?
I’ve put my results on my cholesterol story which I’ve edited will copy link and then add here
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/my-cholesterol-story.155567/
 
Been offline a bit - ridiculously crazy at work - so just seeing this thread. Thanks for posting @bulkbiker and @shelley262 and congratulations both of you on excellent numbers.

Definitely piqued my interest so may get one of these tests done.
 
I do find it hard to ignore things like this as an ex veggie and (living with two vegans). I feel my head is swimming with too much info, be it true or not. Ahhh
 
Flora123 said:
What does everyone think of this. I’m fairly new to this game but I’m really confused!
https://www.forksoverknives.com/fat-insulin-resistance-blood-sugar/#gs.JaOH1Js
Click to expand...
Well I’ve really increased my fat and meat consumption and it’s had the opposite effect! When eating high carb low fat ( with loads of whole grains fruit @nd veg) I had hbaca1 of 97 now 31 and low IR! Says it all as far as I’m concerned as @bulkbiker says vegan propaganda. lCHF works for me.
 
Flora123 said:
I do find it hard to ignore things like this as an ex veggie and (living with two vegans). I feel my head is swimming with too much info, be it true or not. Ahhh
Click to expand...
I think anyone who is interested in switching to a vegan/plant based diet with type 2 diabetes needs to test the meals with a BG meter.
I think the shock of BG spikes after a meal full of “healthy grains” and legumes would be enough of a shock to convince them that it’s not beneficial.
 
If someone is a cultist practitioner like certain vegan/vegetarian notables, they should declare they are advocates of SDA or other sectarian doctrine.
 
Flora123 said:
I do find it hard to ignore things like this as an ex veggie and (living with two vegans). I feel my head is swimming with too much info, be it true or not. Ahhh
Click to expand...
I have tried a few of their recipes, and on each occasion I got much higher bgl values than I see even on a bad day. Also the high levels persist for many hours. I am talking highs of 18 mmol/l on vegan fare, when I rarely peak above 8.

We are all different, but make sure you test your sugar levels before and after (I found I was still up above 9 the next morning, whereas my normal fasting bgl is 5.6 I spiked higher than a chinese takeaway on a veggie stew, but a normal beef stew hardly shows on my meter.
 
Goonergal said:
Been offline a bit - ridiculously crazy at work - so just seeing this thread. Thanks for posting @bulkbiker and @shelley262 and congratulations both of you on excellent numbers.

Definitely piqued my interest so may get one of these tests done.
Click to expand...

Fasting insulin and insulin resistance tests ordered from Medichecks. Found a voucher for £15 off. There is a walk in blood centre that can be used in London so will be trying that.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
@Flora123 Dr. Michael Greger isn't just any old vegan you may meet, he is a propaganda merchant trying to make the whole world vegan by saying animal products are really bad for us with absolutely no science to back it up. He really is best ignored.
Click to expand...
He is also not a medical practitioner. The MD he uses is a Masters Degree in agriculture. He has never been a GP, but can call himself Doctor in the academic sense.
 
One issue with fasting inslin is that the result can be very different in blood samples taken from the same person a few minutes apart due to how inslin level pluses.
 
ringi said:
One issue with fasting inslin is that the result can be very different in blood samples taken from the same person a few minutes apart due to how inslin level pluses.
Click to expand...
I average my readings to reduce fluctuations due to various errors that creep in. Meter readings are permitted to differ even on consecutive measurements of the same blood sample simply due to the technology of the sensors and they are still classed as 'accurate'.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/profess...standard-for-blood-glucose-monitoring-revised
 
ringi said:
One issue with fasting inslin is that the result can be very different in blood samples taken from the same person a few minutes apart due to how inslin level pluses.
Click to expand...
Is that really correct? How has that been tested or is it jut an assumption. Not trying to be picky just wondered how on earth you would measure it?
 
Hi @bulkbiker and @shelley262

Have just got my Medichecks insulin resistance results back. A tad on the high side. Fasting insulin was 13.1 mIU/L and the score on the insulin resistance index was 2.9 (under 2 is ‘normal’). Some very nice comments from the doctor on overall management/HbA1c with the overall analysis as follows:

“This result today shows that your fasting insulin resistance index is a little high, which may have contributed to you becoming diabetic. The result means that you're still producing insulin but it's not working as effectively as it should.

It may be that this, too, is actually getting better over time but as this is only the first reading we have for you it is not possible to say.”

Not surprised as it’s clear my body struggles to cope with anything other than minimal carbs. Also wonder how variable these levels are? Tests were taken after about a week to 10 days of eating significantly more (quantity - all low carb but a couple of days in there at 30-50g carbs which is more than my weekly intake often is). Think I’m going to test every 3 months or so to track the changes. Would love to have had this done at diagnosis.

The Medichecks walk in clinic in London is a delight. Fast, efficient, they got blood out first time with virtually no pain - a rarity in itself.
 
Hi @Goonergal very interesting but as you say wonder what it was like on diagnosis! I would have loved to have had this figure to contrast against, It will be interesting to see how it goes after a further three months of eating keto. We are also clearly very individual and different and my now very low IR may well be why I am doing well with more carb being introduced albeit in small quantities still - we all need to look at what works for us and our results.
Pleased you got it done and sure it informs your decisions about the way ahead. Also sounds like a good blood draw and helpfuldoctor feedback comments.
 

Yes, I’m going to keep checking in. I looked at the site you linked to but it looked like you had to sign up for regular tests and also do a general check first - couldn’t see a way to just book in an insulin resistance test.
 
Goonergal said:
Yes, I’m going to keep checking in. I looked at the site you linked to but it looked like you had to sign up for regular tests and also do a general check first - couldn’t see a way to just book in an insulin resistance test.
Click to expand...
Yes that’s an issue for Thriva - IR is an add in option and you do need to sign on for regular tests although you can delay or withdraw but as you only wanted one check the way you chose def is the best. Now I’m so low in IR I’ll probably not Do IR again unless concerned. I do regular basics cholesterol test with Thriva which keep me informed about my progress and ratios and can add in tests of any type eg hbaca1 and may do this next time as will be halfway to next nhs hbaca1 test!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…