Re: lab results indicate no insulin problem (fasting insulin 7.2), is glucophage appropriate for me?
From: Lisa (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 28 Jun 2002 03:48:53 -0500 (CDT)
CW: Thanks so much for your reply and all the information.
I have some one thing that happens to me that may be related. I find
that if eat lunch or dinner even an hour later than I normally do, that
I get sick feeling. So, I pretty much eat those meals at the same time
every day and if I cannot I make sure to have a granola bar nearby.
That's the only thing though.
At Thu, 27 Jun 2002, cw wrote:
>
>Ohhh 7.2 not 72. LOL What a difference! Yes, actually, you may be
>borderline. My fasting levels were 8, 6, and 2. The fasting test is
>not always accurate, because after many hours, insulin and glucose
>levels sometimes level off. You may want to get an IGTT for a more
>accurate reading or just try the glucophage again in a smaller dose, cut
>up. Besides pcos, another warning of IR is that high cholesterol level.
>How do you feel? Do you get other symptoms of IR like headaches or low
>carb tolerance, etc.? Do you feel like you get ups and downs during the
>day an hour or two after eating?
>
>At Thu, 27 Jun 2002, Lisa wrote:
>>
>>Sorry about that. My fast insulin was 7.2, Not 72. Still think
>>Glucophage is needed?
>>
>>At Thu, 27 Jun 2002, cw wrote:
>>>
>>>A fasting insulin level of 72 is very high. Unless this is a different
>>>type of measurement than I am used to seeing. They say anything over 10
>>>is a bit too high. Over 27 is definitely high. And indicates insulin
>>>resistance.
>>>
>>>Also, instance resistance can cause high cholesterol and may be the
>>>reason for your high cholesterol most of your life, regardless of your
>>>fitness level.
>>>
>>>An insulin sensitizing medication like glucophage (along with a low carb
>>>diet) should lower your fasting insulin rate as well as your cholesterol
>>>(my cholesterol dropped from 330 to 230 in just 3 months after
>>>glucophage).
>>>
>>>You may want to try glucophage again, maybe cutting the pill in half or
>>>quarters, and see if it still bothers you. Give it some time to work
>>>slowly. Otherwise, there are some other insulin sensitizers on the
>>>market that you may be able to take that might not give you problems.
>>>
>>>Insulin resistance should not be taken lightly. Even if you are able to
>>>get pregnant, later on in life (i.e. after 40) many other health
>>>problems can build up such as diabetes, heart disease, and nerve
>>>disorders if IR is ignored. Be careful.
>>>
>>>At Thu, 27 Jun 2002, lisa wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I'm 32 years old. MY FSH was 2.16 mcIU/ml. My glucose, plasma was 83
>>>>mg/dL
>>>>My Fasting Insulin was 72 mcU/Ml. Prolactin level was 6.7 ng/mL.
>>>>
>>>>I am 10lbs over my ideal weight. I do have high cholesterol. However,
>>>>even when I was younger and in the best shape of my life, eating only
>>>>low fat healthy foods, it was around the same level as it is today.
>>>>
>>>>We've been trying to get pregnat for about 2 years. And an ultrasound
>>>>did show some PCOS-like cysts in my ovaries. I have been pregnant
>>>>before, but we lost the baby at 7 weeks. I have some minor facial hair
>>>>problems, that I easily take care of with wax or tweezing. I have no
>>>>problems with my hair or skin whatsover.
>>>>
>>>>I've seen two docs about this, one (my ob/gyn) thinks I should take
>>>>Glucophage, the other (fertility specialist) doesn't think my lab
>>>>results warrant me taking it.
>>>>
>>>>I did try the glucophage. Starting off slowly with one pill a day. I
>>>>never made it beyond that because it made me so sick. Now, I'm not
>>>>taking it at all. I've tried Chlomid, but it kept causing me to get
>>>>functional cyst. The time we got pregnant, we were actually on a break
>>>>from fertility meds and charting and all that other stuff for a month
>>>>(waiting for a cyst to disolve, for my next cycle to start, before
>>>>starting IVF treatment).
>>>>
>>>>Are these lab results enough to indicate a level of PCOS that would
>>>>interfere with me getting pregnant and/or maintaining a pregnancy? Is
>>>>glucophage something I should really try to better tolerate and take to
>>>>improve my chances?
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