Re: Stupid question!
From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 30 Dec 2001 15:43:08 -0600 (CST)
I *think* this is right: it depends on the type of diabetes you have. As
I understand it, Type I diabetes is a production problem. (The pancreas
doesn't produce enough insulin.) Type II diabetes is an IR problem. (The
cells don't recognize all of the insulin, and the pancreas can't
overproduce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check.)
If your friend was having IR problems that were leading to diabetes, I
would think the Glucophage would be a very important tool in helping her
body adjust and hopefully staying away from diabetes. If her pancreas
was just not producing enough insulin, it probably still would be
helpful in letting her use effectively all of the insulin she had.
Regardless, of course diet and excercise are important! I think her
mother's theory of a lazy pancreas is complete bunk though - attributing
a personality trait to an internal organ? I don't think that is
possible?
Anyway, that's my understanding of it all - hope that's right and it
helps!
At Sun, 30 Dec 2001, anonymous wrote:
>
>This made me think of a question that pops into my mind from time to
>time.. If someone has high blood sugar levels does it automatically
>mean that they are insulin resistant? Like, are all adult onset diabetes
>patients insulin resistant first? I have a friend who found out that she
>is on the verge of becoming a diabetic and her doc gave her glucophage.
>Her mother talked her out of taking it because it will "cause her
>pancreas to be lazy and not pump out enough insulin." I disagree with
>her not taking the medication, but she wants to try diet and exercise
>first - which is fine and hopefully that will keep everything in check.
>But is there any truth to this pancreas thing? And does Type II Diabetes
>always start with insulin resistance? I am so confused!
>
>At Sun, 30 Dec 2001, Sonnet wrote:
>>
>>Totally not a stupid question - IR stands for Insulin Resistance.
>>Basically it means your cells don't recognize your insulin properly.
>>This stuffs up your metabolism a great deal! Your pancreas has to work
>>very hard pumping out huge quantities of insulin to keep your blood
>>sugars in check, and all that extra insulin is what causes the hormone
>>problems for us.
>>
>>(That was the WAY condensed version!)
>>
>>Hope that cleared it up though!
>>
>>At Sun, 30 Dec 2001, Chelsea wrote:
>>>
>>>what doea IR mean?
>>>
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>>--
>>Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org
>>
--
Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org
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