Hi there! My doctor had fasting glucose and insulin tests taken for me and told me they came back just fine. However, I have several, if not all of the symptoms for insulin resistance. Plus, I thought IR is what caused PCOS in the first place? Obviously people would have varying amounts of IR, but how can I not be IR at all? I must be confused, any one able to explain this to me? And are there additional or better tests for checking for IR?
__________________ Carrie To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Me (27) Frank, DH (27) DD, Sarah, born 03/04/07 (injectibles worked for me!)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I wish I understood it because I am having a similar confusion. I have no IR and all my hormone levels (including testosterone) are normal. I asked my endo how he could explain all my PCOS symptoms such as weight problems, irregular ovulation/cycles, and facial hair. He didn't seem to have any answers for me. It is confusing and I hope you get some answers.
__________________ Happily married; 1 amazing daughter born 12/06. short term weight loss goal: 20lbs by year's end long term weight loss goal: 65 lbs overall
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"I'm not lazy. I'm simply judicious about excess movement." -Jen Lancaster
Did your doctor tell you what your fasting insulin results were? Mine also told me I was not IR because my level was less than 20. However, I read on one of the stickys in the newbies forum about lab results that optimal fasting insulin should be less than 10 and 10 to 13 indicates some IR. (Mine was 13) She prescribed me metformin anyway because she thought it could still help balance my hormone levels. If he didn't tell you, I'd ask. Were you prescribed anything?
The ob/gyn I met with a couple of weeks ago prescribed me some Provera to have a period (it's been five months) and when I finish with it I am going to start Yasmin.
No mention of Met at all...
I am seeing someone else for a second opinion on Oct. 6th. Will see what she says. She apparently has PCOS so hopefully she'll be more knowledgeable.
__________________ Carrie To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Me (27) Frank, DH (27) DD, Sarah, born 03/04/07 (injectibles worked for me!)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Do get your test results. 'Normal' can be such a wide range, and sadly, a lot of doctors don't even know how to read test results in terms of PCOS.
In answer to your other question, IR does not 'cause' PCOS. There are cysters who are not IR. You can also be IR and not have PCOS. How the two are linked and which causes which has not quite been established.
__________________ Met rules! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. It cleared my brain fog, brought back af, helped me lose weight, made me o' again, and helped me get pregnant. My first Metformin miracle is now 3 years old, my second (surprise one) arrived December11! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The books I've purchased must be wrong. If IR doesn't cause it, what does? What causes the hormone imbalance?
"What causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)? No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS. But there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem. So researchers are looking at the relationship between PCOS and the body’s ability to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body’s use or for storage. Since some women with PCOS make too much insulin, it’s possible that the ovaries react by making too many male hormones, called androgens. This can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems."
__________________ Carrie To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Me (27) Frank, DH (27) DD, Sarah, born 03/04/07 (injectibles worked for me!)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Your book is not wrong, but it also does not specifically say PCOS is caused by IR.
Hormone imbalance can be brought on by a number of things - extreme stress, pregnancy, ...
While I think I have always been IR, I believe my PCOS symptoms did not start until I got pregnant the first time.
It's a very complicated syndrome. Have you read some of the articles in the Newbie section? I read a bunch of them when I first got diagnosed, and quite a few discuss possible causes or how PCOS and IR might be related.
It is very complicated, as hormones always are. Best to see an endocrinologist who specialises in PCOS. I'm also not IR but definitely have PCOS, however my doctor has warned that it may rear its ugly head later if I'm not careful. I was brought up pretty healthy and have good genes on my mum's side (the PCOS is from my dad's side). I've always credited that to my relatively mild PCOS; I'm sure my aunt (on dad's side) had it too, and she was obese, almost infertile and died of a heart attack. To me it seemed like it was a combination between those different genes and lifestyles that's resulted in our different outcomes.
Also from what I have heard the blood glucose tests that they do aren't always accurate; did you do the one where you have three tests and take the glucose drink? According to some, this doesn't accurately replicate what your body does under normal circumstances.
__________________ Me (26), DH (28) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , married 12/02, Dx 04/04
When I was diagnosed my ob\gyn did a fasting glucose and a fasting insulin. To diagnose my IR she did a glucose insulin ratio. I'm not sure how to determine the ratio. My glucose was 99 insulin was 10. both on their on was in the normal range, but the ratio was too high. Have been on met for a little over a year now. Remember, if you are confused and have questions don't be afraid to ask. Julie
You can even PCOS, even if you don't seem to be IR. Also, sometime the fasting glucose/insulin doesn't tell the whole story, as you could have insulin resistance without having hyperinsulinemia.
A GTT (glucose tolerance test) with insulin levels, can be a more sensitive way to detect IR -- they give you glucose to drink, and then monitor how your blood glucose/insulin levels react over a period of a couple hours.
Test for IR are not very good, and don't predict who will respond to insulin sensitizing treatment. There are actually many many studies that show that non-IR women respond well to Metformin....so obviously these women do have some insulin problems, even if the standard tests to detect IR say otherwise.
Anyway, its good your insulin levels look normal, but all of us PCOS women probably have some issues with insulin, even if they are a bit too subtle to show up on the tests. Hope that helps.
__________________ Me (33) DH(48) DS(2)
Jan 2005: M/C #1 (conceived naturally)
Oct 2005: M/C #2 (conceived on Clomid)
Oct 2005: 1st cycle after M/C (on Metformin) O on CD28, BFP at 13dpo. Heatbeat detected at 6w6d 2008: TTC #2 on Metformin
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Confused about IR results 
Have you read some of the articles in the Newbie section? I read a bunch of them when I first got diagnosed, and quite a few discuss possible causes or how PCOS and IR might be related.
