Blood Type and Insulin Resistance?

Daisy811 · 08-23-2009, 11:43 PM

I just want to share some food for thought...

I was reading "Mastering the Zone" by the Zone Diet creator, Barry Sears and stumbled upon some interesting info about blood types and insulin response. Here's what he says:

"The oldest blood group is type O, which includes many native tribes such as Australian aborigines, native Hawaiians, and American Indians. It also includes many people of Northern European ancestry. Individuals with this blood group tend to be very insulin sensitive to carbohydrates, and a high-carbohydrate diet (especially if it is rich in high-gluten grains, like wheat, used to make bread and pasta) tends to be a hormonal disaster for them.
"Blood groups AB and B represent more recent genetic variation, and therefore these individuals may have slightly diminished insulin reaction to carbohydrates. But they are not out of the woods by a long shot if they continue to consume excessive levels of carbohydrates. Finally, individuals with type A blood may represent the genetically lucky ones who can tolerate larger amounts of carbohydrates without severe overproduction of insulin."

This information hit me right away, because I have a BMI of 20 or 21 (depending on the time of year!) and my blood type is A positive. I wonder if thin cysters tend to have type A blood, and this is why we don't always have the insulin resistance problems that other cysters are plagued with.

Thoughts?

jzeman · 08-24-2009, 12:21 AM

Hi there!

My name is Jamie. I was diagnosed on fri. August 20th with PCOS I am 5'8" and 120 lbs. I am so confused as to why I have this. I have no family history and absout. no symptoms? I am type A- and I wonder if that is the case?

I read some info on fertility and blood types before I realized I wasn't conceiving because of PCOS. and the info. about the carbohydrates that you mentioned is correct.

Daisy811 · 08-24-2009, 01:32 PM

Here's a website that goes into the same information...

http://www.dadamo.com/yourbloodtype.htm

jzeman · 08-24-2009, 03:47 PM

Thank you for that information!

redsoxfan · 08-24-2009, 08:57 PM

That is definitely an interesting article.. my blood type is A+.

mnstrpc · 08-25-2009, 12:31 PM

I don't know. I think the main thing is, there really isn't enough research and understanding of what causes PCOS - for either overweight or thin women. As a syndrome it's such a weird cluster of symptoms, can be mild or severe, with some women experiencing certain symptoms and others totally different symptoms.

I am 5'5 1/2", about 130lbs, and have blood type B+. I've never been overweight. I've not been tested for insulin resistance, but suspect that I do have some of that going on as I've had bouts of hypoglycemia all my life, and cycles wonky since they started. Other than those things, I've had really no other symptoms that some cysters report. And with treatment, I was able to get pregnant. There are many cysters who actually end up with natural BFPs, too! So if you're trying to conceive, there is definitely hope, lots of it!

ndoit · 08-26-2009, 02:48 AM

This is definitely interesting information. However, doesn't match up for me. I am O+ and thin. Never been tested for IR though.

Colleen87 · 08-26-2009, 08:25 AM

Im O negative so I would have to say that this theory is not 100% correct. 5'6 120 lbs.

GeorgiaRN · 08-26-2009, 08:59 AM

I'm a thin cyster, 5'5 116 lbs, B+, and IR. I don't know what to think! I think the blood type thing may be a stretch

CarmenSandiego · 08-26-2009, 12:23 PM

I'm O+ and 5'10" approx. 145 with no evidence of IR.

However, I know D'Adamo's work is often criticized but I find that eating LC and grain free like his plan for O types works very well for me.

jzeman · 08-26-2009, 03:07 PM

I literally just got home from having a fasting glucose insulin test. I am curious to know the results. I think it will be a day or two before I get them back. The doctor put me on Clomid and I asked about Metformin because I read it could have positive benefits with and without IR but she doesn't want to give it to me because of my weight? I will post the results of the blood test when I get it.

Cleo19 · 08-31-2009, 08:50 PM

My bloodtype is A+. I also read D'Adamo's book and although it does say that type A's can and should eats carbohydrates, it definitely says they should not be sugars (sugar, white flour, potatoes)...so that kind of goes with the theory of the insulin spike in PCOS.

JZeman, my doc didnt want to give me Met either because I'm normal weight. I had to call him back after my appointment and insist that I wanted to try Met and didnt see a harm.

You should google lean cysters and Metformin and you will find a lot of studies that show that Metformin helps thin women with PCOS as much as, if not more than, overweight cysters.

I also got tested for IR and the test results came back fine. Did they also test your testosterone and DHEA and all those factors?

I did one round of clomid (without Met) and didnt ovulate. I decided I wanted to try Met for a few months on its own to see if my testosterone levels come down and I start to O on my own.

Good luck!

StephW · 08-31-2009, 08:53 PM

I'm Type A, insulin resistant & round in the middle. But I could be a mutant since I have Native American & Northern Eupopean ancestry. However, I can truly handle may alcohol....interesting!

jzeman · 09-01-2009, 01:10 AM

I got the blood results back today and I am not insulin resistant. However, I do have slightly elevated cholesterol? Weird? I try to eat healthy?

I started my first pill of Clomid this morning. Hopefully, I will ovulate on that.

I asked my doc again for Met and she wants to see if clomid works.
It is good to know that Met worked for you... at least I will try that if I dont have results on Clomid. Thanks for the input!

jzeman · 09-01-2009, 01:15 AM

Steph W... my grandmother is full cherokee and I am a quarter. What does that mean? I saw where you mentioned you were part american indan..