Some cysters like myself can't take Metformin (or similar drugs) for various reasons. I take Chromium GTF instead. It takes a bit of trial and error to find the dosage that is right for you. I started with 200mcg a day for a week, re-evaluated if I needed more, went for another week ... I found that if I have Chromium with my three main meals (breakfast, lunch & supper) then I don't have the carb cravings.
HTH.
__________________ TTC #1 since Feb. 2004
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Cinnamon is also supposed to help improve insulin sensitivity, as can green/black tea. I never noticed a difference with tea but I have with cinnamon. I have no lab results to back up my observations but there have been studies done.
I take something called Sweet Balance which is a combination of chromium, gymnema, and banaba. The gymnema is supposed to really help with carb craving. This stuff is working great for me...lowering my blood sugar levels and eliminating the cravings.
My Naturopath has me on Vital Nutrients Blood Sugar Support(I think that's what it's called). It has cinnamon, fenugreek, chromium & a few other things. She said her patients have had great results with it. It takes a few weeks to work. I take 2 capsules twice a day, and I am starting to notice a slight improvement in my blood sugar readings, though I still have carb cravings.
Here is the article I was talking about:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease seen only in humans and is classically characterized by polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea, hirsutism, insulin resistance, and obesity. Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among 13 women with PCOS and supplementation with 1500 mg of Calcium a day and 50,000 iu of Vitamin D2 every week normalized menses and fertility in all the women in the study in three months of treatment. [v] In recent years the focus of treating PCOS is to target the insulin resistance and prescribe the drug Metformin. You may recall that this drug is commonly used to treat Type II diabetes. You may also recall that Vitamin D appears to be more effective and reducing insulin resistance than Metformin.
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Does anyone know what the herbal or natural equivalent of Metformin is?? TIA!!
I just found this article on a "new herb" if there is such a thing
Its called Salacia Oblonga http://www.news-medical.net/?id=7685 this website has info on a study they did.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has heard of this or taken it. I just ordered it and am really optimistic. I have only been off the pill 10 months and havent missed any periods but my Dr thinks I am going toward polycystic. My insulin was high as well. I was told today that I have 2 4cm cysts one on each ovary.
Herbal equivalent of Met?? 
new herb? 
