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Re: asking the experts here: IR
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 30 Jan 2002 19:42:32 -0600 (CST)
Thank you VERY MUCH for this excellent information. Regardless of my
status, I go agree that eating the best I can now will work worlds of
wonder for me down the road. Interestingly, as I've started to be
concerned about the diabetes issue in the past 6 months, I stopped
buying snack crackers and such, the kinds of things I throw in my kids
lunch box, and amazingly I lost the final 8 lbs from the previous
pregnancy without changing anything else I did. So that was pretty
compelling that this way of eating was a better choice. Fortunately for
me, my mom was a "hippie" and a slice of white bread has never passed my
lips, and I love vegetables, beans, lentils, tofu, and eat tons of that
without effort. And I've never been a big fruit or sweets eater, so
that isn't too much temptation, BUT I do LOVE the
crackers/bagels/cereals, etc. So I"ve tried to eliminate that as the
bulk of my diet. (I think I got through graduate school on nothing but
diet soda, coffee, salads, and bagels!)
I didn't get gestational diabetes with my three pregnancies, and the
4rth was lost just before the test. so I don't know if that was just
luck or what. My brother got the diabetes when he was 34, and I'm now
38, so I worry. He got it very seriously and full on, not a subtle
thing, and was very ill and passing out and such when he was diagnosed.
He doesn't really fit the profile of type II diabetes, as he is very
active and an athlete, although I think he did indulge in a lot of
fastfood and sodas in his 20s. His doctors aren't sure if it's a
genetic issue, or from a bout of pancreatitis, but I"m not taking any
chances after seeing what he has to go through. He is only 2 years
older than me and insulin dependent. The other thing I wonder is if I
only haven't gotten it by virtue of the fact that I have had such a
healthy diet so far.
My RE is calling tomorrow about scheduling an HSG, which is the next
step for us, and I'm going to ask about a test for IR. I agree with
your advice that even knowing a baseline is a good idea. Especially
since I"m going to hopefully be pregnant again soon, and with my family
history, it would be good to know now if I am borderline and at
increased risk for GD.
Okay one last question: If one did have IR, and managed to control it
with diet, would that help mend a hormone problem, ie the
testosterone/acne/hair on the toes issue......
Thanks so much again!
At Wed, 30 Jan 2002, Pat wrote:
>
>It is difficult to diagnose IR/PCOS without appropriate labwork, which
>is still evolving. PCOS diagnosis requires more than the usual tests,
>and testosterone is not usually drawn unless someone is looking for
>PCOS, and it is part of a ratio. The best test for IR might be a
>fasting Insulin. The research suggests that a fasting blood level above
>110 and below 126 might suggest IR.
>The key is, for me at least, is making choices about what I eat as I
>just believe they are better for me. For example, I don't want my blood
>sugar fluxuating all over the map, so I try to keep it in line by the
>choices I eat. I don't want to overtax my pancreas, in other words. It
>is a mindset, and once I understood the implications of a higher than
>average blood sugar, I am doing what I can in my power to keep my blood
>sugar low. You also didn't mention your age. If you are younger and
>physically active, you might not be IR yet, but heading there. Remember
>also, this is a new field. I eat this way because I feel better when I
>eat this way. Once you think health, it really changes your
>perspective. My husband, Mr high metabolism, can eat anything, and eats
>way too much sugar. I worry about the affect on his health, but he's
>not fat (and never will be), and not diabetic. So, the USDA food
>pyramid works for him, but not for me. Lucky for me I like
>vegetables....
>Testing: http://home.attbi.com/~creationsunltd/appendixa.htm#LabScreen
>and
>http://home.attbi.com/~creationsunltd/appendixa.htm#ResearchMeth
>
>Yes, IMHO, you can slow the progression of IR by the food choices you
>make. As long as you aren't sacrificing nutrition with your food
>choices, you should be okay. No one can argue with a healthy diet, with
>lots of healthy greens. If you are really serious about fertility, this
>is a way to go. I feel it is the complex carbohydrates that hurt us,
>and I just make careful choices about them.
>
>It is concerning your provider won't even order a Fasting Blood Sugar.
>That is important, if only for a baseline. And, with a family history
>of such. It doesn't matter whether or not you are IR or diabetic,
>knowing your FBS is helpful I also had my HGA1C drawn this year, and it
>was 6, which is borderline high normal. My FBS was okay, but slightly
>higher than last year. This was right after Christmas, but at least now
>I have this information. Another way to test is to have a fasting
>complete cholesterol panel. This means cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL
>and LDL. If these are all normal, and a FBS are normal, then you are
>wise to be doing what you are doing. Also, do lots of reading. Another
>good book is Blood Sugar Blues:
>http://home.attbi.com/~cnmpat/baleatdiab.html#BloodSugarBlues
>One of the first books written about IR. Did you have gestational
>diabetes during your pregnancy ? That is another sign, as in the third
>trimester of pregnancy, blood sugars are elevated. If you've had three
>pregnancies already, you don't have PCOS now...but you are at future
>risk for IR and Diabetes, with your family history. Forgive me if I am
>too much a preacher. I am just so very interested in this topic. High
>fiber carbs are good for you, as they move through your system. Its the
>low fiber starchy carbs that are the culprits that seem to make things
>worse for some folks
>Pat Sonnenstuhl, ARNP, CNM, MS
>Balanced Eating Support
>http://home.attbi.com/~cnmpat/favlowcarbsites.htm
>http://home.attbi.com/~cnmpat/siteindex.htm
>PCOS Support
>http://www.midwivesofwa.org/pcos.htm
>http://www.midwivesofwa.org//pcosarticles.htm
>
>>So what I'm wondering is this: for women who control insulin resistance
>>via diet, is that alone adequate to promote fertiliy if one is at a
>>regular weight, ovulating normally and excercices regularly, or for
>>someone who is already eating right, exercising, etc., then is there
>>nothing that can be done with diet/lifestyle to really "control" insulin
>>resistance, and medical treatment is necessary?
>>
>>Also, is there any way to test one's blood sugar at home without the dr
>>ordering the test? My doctor simply does not think this is an issue, so
>>keeps brushing off my concern, so i'm wondering if there is anyway to
>>test myself to find out.
>>
>>At my next appt, I'm going to show the RE the little tuft of hair on my
>>big toe, but I have a feeling he's going to give me that kind of
>>smirking look, pat me on the head and say there is nothing wrong, keep
>>trying. (We've been ttc 9 months after a loss, but I already have 3
>>kids, so the drs don't really care that before I got pregnant fast and
>>now it's not working. I'm wondering if the prengnacy last spring kicked
>>in some insulin resistance, given that these symtpoms appeared then I
>>know weird hairs and acne in pregnancy are common, but the problem is
>>that they haven't really gone away since then. I did gain 15 lbs with
>>the pregnancy (it was a 5-month loss), so maybe that triggered an IR
>>problem?
>>
>>Last question: Are complex, high fiber carbohydrates broken down more
>>slowly, or are those just as bad as refined carbs?
>>
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