How is it possible to be thin and have insulin resistance?

sdecorla · 05-24-2007, 07:00 PM

Hi everyone,

I was just diagnosed with PCOS a couple of months ago. My only symptom is very long cycles (50-80 days). I'm thin (5'7'' and about 130 pounds). I have been taking 1000mg of Metformin and I just ovulated (I use natural family planning so I could tell I ovulated because my temperature went up.) This cycle will be about 40 days – my shortest cycle ever! So I guess the Met is working. My Dr. did not test me for insulin resistance. He said everyone who has PCOS is insulin resistant. I was diagnosed because of my LH/FSH ratio. And I guess I am insulin resistant, since I took a drug to increase my sensitivity to insulin and it made me ovulate.

My question is – how is it possible for me have insulin resistance and be thin? I’ve always been thin, and I’ve always had a big appetite and a very high metabolism. I just eat and eat and eat and don’t gain a pound. In fact, I used to be borderline underweight despite having a big appetite and eating a lot. I’ve never exercised a whole lot. I also have no excess hair, no acne, and no other symptoms of PCOS or insulin resistance. I even got pregnant 3 years ago without trying and carried the baby to term. I’ve read that with insulin resistant people, the excess glucose has no where to go and get stored in fat cells. Then why doesn’t that happen with me? And how can Met help someone who’s not insulin resistant, as many people on this board have said? Any thoughts?

TrishainAZ · 05-24-2007, 09:34 PM

I don't know the answer, but I am pretty much in the same boat and my doctor has the same philosophy about not even testing for it. Met's worked for me though, so I certainly can't complain!

chris3811 · 05-25-2007, 01:06 PM

I was dx in March of this year. I too have no other symptoms. I have always had longer cycles about 30-36 days, until my Feb/March cycle which wound up being 54 days. My Gyn diagnosed me because of my raised LH level in ratio to my FSH just like you. I am 5'3" 110lbs. I have sort of been in denial about my diagnosis. I have been seeing an acupuncturist who has been great. My cycle after the 54 days was 34 days and my last one was 31! Though I am happy my cycles are regulating, I am still not pregnant so I am seeing an RE this week for a second opinion. I want to know my options. I have spoken to a friend's mother who is a RN at a Women's diabetic center and she said there are many cases of atypical women who are IR. Met is not approved by the FDA to treat women with PCOS but yet the women whose doctor's prescribe it seem to be benefiting from it. I feel torn. I know first hand a fellow thin cyster who tested neg for IR but got pregnant on Met. Many women on this website have as well. The RN I spoke to sent me some information stating that IR testing in women with PCOS are unreliable, it doesn't speak of thin cysters directly but rather the entire population of PCOS women. I will post what she gave me. For me IR makes more sense than PCOS. I tired to post what she sent me here, but I am still kind of new to the website and the chart that is in her email got all screwy.

I have felt since I found out my hormones are out of whack, that it is a bi-product of something deeper. IR makes sense to me. If I had all the other symptoms of PCOS it would be easier to understand my diagnosis but just having my hormones unbalanced doesn't convince me. Not that I don't have PCOS but that it is a result of some other issue my body is facing. I hope I have helped even a little. Good luck to you!! Are you TTC?

TrishainAZ · 05-25-2007, 01:22 PM

Cbrubaker- yes, thats sort of what my doctor said... that the tests were unreliable and that he would prescribe met regardless of the results, so he doesn't even bother with the tests. I am convinced it's what has worked for me as if you look at my signature 3 times now whatever month I start met in is the month I give birth the following year so it seems to be a very exact amount of time that my body needs on the drug to work. With the first two I figured it was coincidence, but I just can't think it is with 3! Good luck!

PBLayzod · 05-25-2007, 02:03 PM

Same here...thin, doctor didn't want to test for IR, Met worked. I don't have polycycstic ovaries. I do, however, have some of the other symptoms (excess hair, acne, depression, etc.) along with the abnormal blood work.

skinnypcos · 06-04-2007, 07:05 PM

my Dr. said I am not IR. Does that make sense? I eat a ton of sugar and always have. I am 5'2 98 lbs. Should I stop eating sugar? How can I have PCOS and not be IR?