Insulin Resistance

[scribbler]

Hi, not sure if this is quite the right place for this, if not admin please move. 26 years ago I had Glandular Fever/Mononucleosis/Epstein Barr after which everything health wise changed, 6 years later I had a glucose tolerance test and was diagnosed as diabetic. I have been through numerous medicines, all of which seem to make me feel worse, I don’t have symptoms of diabetes, I’ve never had symptoms of diabetes. I have very low to non existent ketones but very high blood sugar. I have had extensive tests and it’s been determined that, so far, I am not being affected by the blood sugar. Clearly I need to get it down, we have tried titration of insulin, but it starts making me feel unwell before it reduces the sugars. I am not sure how giving me more of what I’m resistant to actually helps, my pancreas is producing insulin fine, I just cant use it. It’s been like this for twenty years. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has had similar experiences or have any thoughts.

 

[KennyA]

Hi scribbler. I've nothing personally that might help you understand what's going on, but I'm going to tag one of our members who knows more than I do about some of the less usual manifestations of blood glucose issues. No idea if he'll know anything about your issue. @Lamont D

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, not sure if this is quite the right place for this, if not admin please move. 26 years ago I had Glandular Fever/Mononucleosis/Epstein Barr after which everything health wise changed, 6 years later I had a glucose tolerance test and was diagnosed as diabetic. I have been through numerous medicines, all of which seem to make me feel worse, I don’t have symptoms of diabetes, I’ve never had symptoms of diabetes. I have very low to non existent ketones but very high blood sugar. I have had extensive tests and it’s been determined that, so far, I am not being affected by the blood sugar. Clearly I need to get it down, we have tried titration of insulin, but it starts making me feel unwell before it reduces the sugars. I am not sure how giving me more of what I’m resistant to actually helps, my pancreas is producing insulin fine, I just cant use it. It’s been like this for twenty years. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has had similar experiences or have any thoughts.

Hi @scribbler.
And thanks @KennyA
How interesting your issues are.
Before a true diagnosis, I was misdiagnosed T2, because of the similar symptoms you have been getting.
I will add that I don't believe you have the same condition that I have.
but the symptoms and blood glucose levels rollercoaster similar to me.
The reason was until I found out the reason why I was feeling awful was BG levels that were in constant rollercoaster mode, because of two different issues, the obvious one was the insulin resistance, the second was my first phase insulin/ hormonal response.
And then because of this lack of the insulin binding to the glucose derived from the carbs I was eating, my pancreas would overproduce too much more insulin.
Overproduction of insulin is not recommended.
Stimulus of the pancreas to the high abnormal spikes was increasing weight and the rollercoaster of spikes and lows was causing the succession of feeling really rough for most of the time.

I must say at this point, that how your other conditions impact the hormonal first and second phase response, I have no idea. I would have to look them up.
I would say that your OGTT would have been a two hour test?
I would believe that is a bit premature for cases such as mine and possibly yours.
I had a extended OGTT for up to five hours long this would ascertain whether your second phase impacts on your BG levels. Overproduction of insulin for example or a second spike, I'm not sure.

I believe that conditions even though they have different causes or response from how our body's ability to cope with certain food. The tests necessary to discover the actual how and why, should get you referred to a specialist endocrinologist. One that has experience in this field.

I would also add that treatment is your choice in how to get control of the symptoms and how you feel.
Because of my condition, I have found that dietary control is possible and effective. And if you can find a balanced diet tailored to your own individual requirements, all the better.
I am carb intolerant.
My body does not react well to the majority of carbs.
So, if I was lactose intolerant (I am) since young my docs told me to do without dairy.
So logically, because I can't have much carb at all. I had to experiment, record, log, take lots of readings.
Over a few months, my body adapted to very low carb, my symptoms eased and I started to lose weight.
It worked, but that was me.
A food diary is a tool I used to discover lots of things.
Because I can fast for days. I used intermittent fasting to help with the control.
So regardless of the cause, my body was happier and healthier without carbs.
Have you had any food reaction, allergy, intolerance tests?
Have you done a low carb diet for an extended period?

We are usually classed under the diabetes umbrella of conditions but this is incorrect to a lot of us, who different outcomes from food have the same symptoms, need the tests to determine if any medical intervention can help, rather than just dispensing drugs, that in your case can have a diverse effect and not help with the condition itself.
Hope this helps.