Was in Denial about Insulin Resistance, How Far in the Deep End Am I?

[StarWarsFan28]

I’ve had some strange symptoms and test results the past 2 years. I’ll give a brief introduction about myself.

Two years ago, when I was 23, I came to the doctor for a different reason and had lab work done. My fasting glucose came back as 123 mg/dL (6.85 mmol/L). My doctor didn’t actually note this, I had to inquire to him about it and he told me to come back and get a test called Hemoglobin A1C. The test returned 4.7% (27.87 mmol/L). So he said not to worry.

Between 2021 and 2022 I had 3 more fasting glucose and A1C: and the 123 mg/dL result was indeed abnormal. However all 3 readings were still above 100 mg/dL (107 mg/dL first one, 104 mg/dL second one, and most recent one was 103 mg/dL). I chalked this up to stress since I’m very afraid of needles and always am super stressed and heard anxiety can impact glucose numbers. My A1C never exceeded 5.0% (31 mmol/L). My 3 readings (from least to most recent) were: 4.7%, 5.0%, 4.8%. I also tested at home and my post Prandial numbers were normal. Always back to baseline by the 1-1.5 hour mark.

In 2021 I bought the most accurate meter I could find and I was constantly scoring below the prediabetic threshold 100 mg/dL (averaging 93 mg/dL). I know my meter is very accurate since I brought it right after getting my blood drawn at doctors and the lab value was identical to the meter value. Each of the 3 times it’s been off no more than 2 mg/dL. Today I measured my fasting glucose and it was 86 mg/dL (4.8 mmol/L).

Psychologically I was happy I was safe and for some reason this made me binge fast food. I would eat it everyday since my doctor said I’m all good thinking I’m invincible. I would drink soda everyday for the past 2 years (a large) and burgers and fries. I gained some weight but I’m not obese (165 lbs @ 5’7). Every night I would buy candy and soda and snacks and binge it. I also have built some muscle in the gym but my bodyfat percentage is borderline overweight.

So you’re reading this thinking, why is this dude on here? Normal numbers, can eat a bad diet and don’t have numbers in pre or diabetes. What is this dude on about?

However, about 3-4 months after my abnormal readings I would start getting symptoms after eating carbs. And as time went by the symptoms would get worse and worse. Almost immediately after eating I would get brain fog, powerful heart palpitations, feel the need to sleep, headache, and I would feel very itchy. Which was odd since normally I would only get itchy in my body during winter, not in the summer.

At first I thought I developed some intolerance to grains, however tests showed I didn’t have celiac. And also if I drank Coca Cola or pure sugar I would get the symptoms which has no grains.

I haven’t gotten a HOMA-IR test yet because my doctor hasn’t ordered one, but I am almost sure I am starting to become insulin resistant. After all, if I only eat low carb I get 0 symptoms. If I eat anything with carbs, I get the symptoms. I have not found any exceptions. I think my body can keep my sugar levels like a non-diabetic because my insulin levels are sky high to keep it that way. Oh also if I exercise right before eating the symptoms are lessened to a point of almost being symptomless. Which further proves insulin resistance.

Given that I’m young, if I lose weight and stop binging fast food/candy and go on a low carb diet, can I regain my insulin sensitivity? Provided that my beta cells haven’t died yet? I want to be able to enjoy some carbs in moderation (like in social events or when I travel and want to try the local cuisine) without having these debilitating symptoms. Obviously I can’t go back to the way I was eating. But can I ever eat carbs without needing to sleep again?

And any advice for not getting super sad about this? So much of social life revolves around going out to eat and I don’t mind being strict 90% of the time but want to be able to enjoy things without symptoms. Feeling very down.

Thank you for reading my story.

 

[jonathan183]

Suggest you keep a food diary to see what you have eaten when you have symptoms. What are your blood glucose readings when you have the symptoms ?

 

[StarWarsFan28]

Suggest you keep a food diary to see what you have eaten when you have symptoms. What are your blood glucose readings when you have the symptoms ?

Good advice, I will add a food diary! Usually I measure at 1 and 2 hours (because I get symptoms as early as 10-20 mins and I’m not sure if measuring at that time makes sense). Should I try measuring at minute 10 or 20? The symptoms can last up to 6 hours, but maybe they are strongest around 45 mins - 2 hours mark?

Almost all my 1-2 hour readings have never been higher than 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) and usually by hour 1.5 I’m already back to baseline, sometimes as soon as 1 hour.

So I assume because my blood sugar numbers are normal, that the high insulin to compensate for those numbers is what is causing my symptoms. And I don’t know if there’s a meter that can measure how much insulin my body is pumping out.

I haven’t had the classical symptoms of diabetes (being thirsty, peeing a lot) but I’ve read fatigue after meals is a common symptom

 

[HSSS]

What the symptoms show is that you probably have high glucose after a carb binge, not necessarily insulin resistance. Have you check glucose when the symptoms are there?

It sounds very simple. Consider this a warning wake-up. Stop binging junk now and the odds are good you’ll be just fine. Just eat a reasonably low carb diet most of the time. No need to be extreme 100% of the time unless you have reason to or want to. You are not bullet proof forever. Keep abusing your body and ultimately you‘ll pay the price.

 

[HSSS]

Good advice, I will add a food diary! Usually I measure at 1 and 2 hours (because I get symptoms as early as 10-20 mins and I’m not sure if measuring at that time makes sense). Should I try measuring at minute 10 or 20? The symptoms can last up to 6 hours, but maybe they are strongest around 45 mins - 2 hours mark?

Almost all my 1-2 hour readings have never been higher than 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) and usually by hour 1.5 I’m already back to baseline, sometimes as soon as 1 hour.

So I assume because my blood sugar numbers are normal, that the high insulin to compensate for those numbers is what is causing my symptoms. And I don’t know if there’s a meter that can measure how much insulin my body is pumping out.

I haven’t had the classical symptoms of diabetes (being thirsty, peeing a lot) but I’ve read fatigue after meals is a common symptom

Have you considered it might be an intolerance to a food rather than blood glucose/insulin related?

 

[StarWarsFan28]

What the symptoms show is that you probably have high glucose after a carb binge, not necessarily insulin resistance. Have you check glucose when the symptoms are there?

It sounds very simple. Consider this a warning wake-up. Stop binging junk now and the odds are good you’ll be just fine. Just eat a reasonably low carb diet most of the time. No need to be extreme 100% of the time unless you have reason to or want to. You are not bullet proof forever. Keep abusing your body and ultimately you‘ll pay the price.

My normal A1C and my meter readings show my glucose numbers are normal.

I don’t think it’s a food intolerance since if I drink water with pure sugar I get those symptoms. But what’s weird is my sugar levels never spike high either. And I’ve read that you can be insulin resistant long before A1C is abnormal.

 

[StarWarsFan28]

I could be missing some spike since I’ve only measured at 1 and 2 hour marks maybe? I’m not sure

 

[jonathan183]

Good advice, I will add a food diary! Usually I measure at 1 and 2 hours (because I get symptoms as early as 10-20 mins and I’m not sure if measuring at that time makes sense). Should I try measuring at minute 10 or 20? The symptoms can last up to 6 hours, but maybe they are strongest around 45 mins - 2 hours mark?

You should try to get blood glucose levels when you get the symptoms - if that's after 20 minutes then test at that point

 

[StarWarsFan28]

You should try to get blood glucose levels when you get the symptoms - if that's after 20 minutes then test at that point

It’s confusing though because I’ve read even non diabetics can get a high reading briefly if you eat a refined carb. Like I heard non diabetics hitting an high number eating a banana. Just that they go down quickly. So how I can I tell what number to aim for? Or what is normal? All I know is you want to be below 140 at 2 hours and back to baseline.

 

[jonathan183]

It’s confusing though because I’ve read even non diabetics can get a high reading if you eat a refined carb. Like I heard non diabetics hitting an high number eating a banana. Just that they go down quickly. So how I can I tell what number to aim for? Or what is normal? All I know is you want to be below 140 at 2 hours and back to baseline.

suggest you get the readings when you have the symptoms ... until you measure you will not know

 

[StarWarsFan28]

suggest you get the readings when you have the symptoms ... until you measure you will not know

I’ll do that once I eat in a few hours. But what numbers are bad? Like how do I interpret it?

 

[HSSS]

My normal A1C and my meter readings show my glucose numbers are normal.

I don’t think it’s a food intolerance since if I drink water with pure sugar I get those symptoms. But what’s weird is my sugar levels never spike high either. And I’ve read that you can be insulin resistant long before A1C is abnormal.

IF you become type 2 then yes insulin will have been raised for some time. But before that time it is reversible, and even afterwards for many.

 

[ravensmitten]

I would start getting symptoms after eating carbs. And as time went by the symptoms would get worse and worse. Almost immediately after eating I would get brain fog, powerful heart palpitations, feel the need to sleep, headache, and I would feel very itchy. Which was odd since normally I would only get itchy in my body during winter, not in the summer.

I had times like this where I'd eat something pretty carb heavy and within 10-30 mins I'd feel like I had to throw myself down for a sleep and often did, itchy too. I didn't have the equipment to test my sugars at the time though, seemed to resolve after a bit of clean eating for a while, then recently it built up and started happening again (years later)

Someone who wasn't a medical expert suggested to me that I could have had some kind of gut fermentation thing going on where carbs were being converted to alcohols or something. I never followed up on it at the time as it sounded a bit far fetched but maybe it isn't, Forgot all about that until this post today.

 

[StarWarsFan28]

IF you become type 2 then yes insulin will have been raised for some time. But before that time it is reversible, and even afterwards for many.

Depends on what the definition is. But at this point I haven’t hit the threshold technically. Might have hit the IR threshold. Hoping with a few months of clean eating I can have carbs with moderation without feeling symptoms.

 

[StarWarsFan28]

I had times like this where I'd eat something pretty carb heavy and within 10-30 mins I'd feel like I had to throw myself down for a sleep and often did, itchy too. I didn't have the equipment to test my sugars at the time though, seemed to resolve after a bit of clean eating for a while, then recently it built up and started happening again (years later)

Someone who wasn't a medical expert suggested to me that I could have had some kind of gut fermentation thing going on where carbs were being converted to alcohols or something. I never followed up on it at the time as it sounded a bit far fetched but maybe it isn't, Forgot all about that until this post today.

I guess it couldn’t be far fetched since when I measure I haven’t actually noticed abnormal glucose levels.

But, I need to measure right when I get symptoms. I ran out of strips so I’m waiting for them to ship them I’ll update this thread with my results.

 

[HSSS]

Depends on what the definition is. But at this point I haven’t hit the threshold technically. Might have hit the IR threshold. Hoping with a few months of clean eating I can have carbs with moderation without feeling symptoms.

Well a lot of people in here (and other sites) with diagnosed type 2 - even with high numbers and even after a few years have achieved remission (drug free below diagnosis levels is the now accepted definition). Many have achieved normal levels (ie below prediabetic). I’ve never heard of a an IR threshold.

The danger of a few months clean eating isn’t that you’ll fail to reduce levels and improve your health ( because I fully believe that’s do’able), but that you’ll think it’s a done deal once you get to that point and go back to the poor eating habits like you did last time you felt “safe”.

 

[Robbity]

.....

The danger of a few months clean eating isn’t that you’ll fail to reduce levels and improve your health ( because I fully believe that’s do’able), but that you’ll think it’s a done deal once you get to that point and go back to the poor eating habits like you did last time you felt “safe”.

I think this is vital to remember, and I think of myself as being "carbohydrate intolerant" so treat my T2 like I would any other similar issue such as a gluten or lactose intolerance. And as an ex-long term migraine suffer with a few food triggers, I have always been careful to (endeavour to!) avoid any food that that might cause me issues.

 

[StarWarsFan28]

Well a lot of people in here (and other sites) with diagnosed type 2 - even with high numbers and even after a few years have achieved remission (drug free below diagnosis levels is the now accepted definition). Many have achieved normal levels (ie below prediabetic). I’ve never heard of a an IR threshold.

The danger of a few months clean eating isn’t that you’ll fail to reduce levels and improve your health ( because I fully believe that’s do’able), but that you’ll think it’s a done deal once you get to that point and go back to the poor eating habits like you did last time you felt “safe”.

Right but I assume they can’t still can’t eat carbs in moderation without spiking? Or can they have a treat once in a while and their pancreas reacts just like before diagnosis?

I will do my best to not fall in the trap of poor eating again, but hoping I can at least have cake on my bday and not have bad symptoms. I guess only time will tell

 

[StarWarsFan28]

I think this is vital to remember, and I think of myself as being "carbohydrate intolerant" so treat my T2 like I would any other similar issue such as a gluten or lactose intolerance. And as an ex-long term migraine suffer with a few food triggers, I have always been careful to (endeavour to!) avoid any food that that might cause me issues.

The tough part is that everything has carbs.

Like if you have a peanut allergy you can still eat 90% of foods. If you are insulin resistant you legit cannot eat most foods at restaurants. A large chunk of the grocery store is off limits.

Socially this is tough, idk how I can live a life going on a keto diet. I just hope I’m not really insulin resistant but all signs point that I am.

I have read some studies showing early on, you can regain beta cell functionality. Not sure if I’m “early on”.

 

[Robbity]

@StarWarsFan28 Have you considered a continuous glucose monitor such as a Libre sensor in addition to a food diary? This should definitely provide a much better idea of what is actually going on glucose wise 24/7, rather than relying on time-limited finger pricks.

Re diet: For me a ketogenic diet (not what currently appears to be evolving into a sort of fad "keto" thing) is a perfectly natural and normal style of eating, allowing our bodies to use mainly fats & ketones for fuel rather than short term quick-fix carbs, and I believe this is how our bodies are designed to work. I'm certainly much better off in general eating this way - not just diabetes health wise. For several years pre-diagnosis I was unwillingly eating a high carb diet which turned me into a permanently brain-fogged zombie. And I tended to be copmletely "zonked out" after my main meals, too. Being able to cut back on those carbs has enabled me to return to being a normal thinking person again - and I've learned that my brain definitely works best on ketones.

I'm now over 80 and have had T2 since late 2013. My diet for this time has been low carb/ketogenic, and my glucose levels have been pre-diabetic since my first post-diagnosis review, and I'm no longer taking statins or diabetic meds (metformin). I've basically cut out all high carb, sugary foods, but I can still eat a very varied diet (and the majority of what I eat now is what I've always eaten), e.g. : meat, fish , poultry, game, normal full fat dairy, and low carb fruit and vegetables (watching both carbs and portion size for these). and additionally: high % dark chocolate, baked foods made with nut meal/flours, and I use erythritol and stevia as "no-carb" sweeteners. So for me it's in no way a restrictive diet.