pcos IR vs. not

tiffanyleigh614 · 06-27-2008, 01:18 AM

with overweight being one of the biggest side effects of PCOS i'm just wondering about the skinny cysters. wut causes some cysters to be skinny and some are overweight, i know lifestyle habits play a big part but i am wondering if the pcos IR causes the overweight verses skinny cysters just having regular ole pcos.

this sounds alot better in my head. hopefully yall can understand wut i'm trying to ask

funkydiva77 · 06-27-2008, 01:52 AM

The root cause of PCOS is insulin resistance

So if you have PCOS you have insulin resistance. Makes no diference if you are under or overweight.

Im a skinny cyster but I didnt use to be. Was 220pounds for years, I got a health scare a few years back and I decided I had to lose the weight. I know what they mean by most PCOS sufferers being obese, I have this uncontrollable urge to eat highly refined carb all my life and still do today, except today I literally tell myself NO in a real loud voice in my head. Another thing Im skinny but I do have the belly fat that is caused by insulin resistance. I used to wonder why I couldnt get rid of it??

When I give in to the carb cravings though I put on weight and it shows within a few weeks arrrgh sux having PCOS skinny or overweight.

tina_d · 06-27-2008, 10:09 AM

There is a high rate of PCOSers with IR, but not everyone with PCOS will have IR. And IR isn't something that will just show up over night. And I believe that there are warning signs.

When I was in my teens and early 20s, I was thin. I didn't know that I had PCOS, but I knew that I was 'borderline diabetic', and was told to watch my diet and weight. When I was pregnant with my son at 19, I showed signs of gestational diabetes, but all of the glucose tests were determined to be inconclusive. I gained 80 lbs during that time. My son was only 5lbs 5 oz. Three days after giving birth, I left the hospital in a Junior size 7 and my prepregnancy weight.

My real weight issues didn't come until I was in my late 20s. And the majority of it is all in the belly.

JustinsMama · 06-27-2008, 01:56 PM

How do they test for insulin resistance? I was just diagnosed with PCOS last week, and I have no idea if I am insulin resistant or not. I was diagnosed by an ultrasound showing ovarian cysts and bloodwork. Is this a test I should ask for?

tina_d · 06-27-2008, 04:35 PM

Mine was dx-ed by a fasting glucose test. Since my son was born, mine has always been on the high side, but not high enough to be treated for diabetes. There is also a test that can be done to read your insulin levels. Not positive if I had that or not because the dr who dx-ed me never went over the results of any of the blood tests ran. She also started me on Met before she even got any of the results back because I have the PCOS/IR belly.

Manchola · 06-27-2008, 08:09 PM

What does a PCOS/IR belly look like? I have had PCOS for almost ten years but since my son was born I am NOW seeing a lot of problems. HELP!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tina_d

Mine was dx-ed by a fasting glucose test. Since my son was born, mine has always been on the high side, but not high enough to be treated for diabetes. There is also a test that can be done to read your insulin levels. Not positive if I had that or not because the dr who dx-ed me never went over the results of any of the blood tests ran. She also started me on Met before she even got any of the results back because I have the PCOS/IR belly.

tina_d · 06-27-2008, 11:39 PM

My belly is apple shaped, and doesn't really match up with my body. I have skinny legs and skinny arms, no excess weight on thighs or hips, no love handles on my back. All fat is in my belly and it 'hangs' over. Without the belly, I could by jeans that are 4 to 6 sizes smaller. Instead it's either stretch pants with super long shirts or pants that balloon out at my thighs and legs.

SandV · 06-28-2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinsMama

How do they test for insulin resistance? I was just diagnosed with PCOS last week, and I have no idea if I am insulin resistant or not. I was diagnosed by an ultrasound showing ovarian cysts and bloodwork. Is this a test I should ask for?

My dr did a fasting glucose/fasting insulin test. I was not even allowed to drink water before I took the test as that can cause insulin to be released for digestion (from what the old dr said).

As for original post, from what I understand about PCOS. It is a result of a hormone inbalance, that could have started as young as pre-pubescent (spelling?) years. If during those years you had IR problems or not enough estrogen in your system, that could cause the PCOS and hormone inbalance to continue.
There are many different "theories" but most of the research I have read agrees as to the cause is still truly unknown.

Oh yeah, as for the thin cyster or not - well I know that it can be a catch 22. If you gain weight, it may be hard to get it off due to the hormone inbalance. If you can get it off, then its your life habits you need to change to keep it off. SOME thin cysters just never got big to begin with.

HTH.

CarmenSandiego · 06-28-2008, 07:14 PM

My fasting glucose is usually around the mid-70s. I feel as though I am being under-treated because of the glucose level and my height/weight...even though I used to be almost 40 pounds heavier, been LCing since 2002, and gain 7 pounds overnight if I have a freakin' piece of bread!

I can't convince them to test me for IR. I know that if I ate "normally" I'd be pushing 200 pounds again. I'm on Spiro now for PCOS related symptoms, but I'd really like to have a go at Met...not to lose weight obviously, but just so that I don't have to be ridiculously mindful of every.single.bite just to maintain my weight.

Natalie'smom06 · 06-29-2008, 01:23 AM

You do not have to be insulin resistant to have PCOS. I have almost every other PCOS symptom, but I am thin, tested as not IR, never been overweight except for when I was preggers with DD. I believe being not IR is why I responded immediately to Metformin.
I asked for the total PCOS blood workup when I was TTC my DD, which included an insulin test.

mahjab · 06-29-2008, 01:49 AM

This is a good question...if you're not IR then why do your ovaries produce all that testosterone? I'm not overweight but my T is high.

funkydiva77 · 06-29-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natalie'smom06

You do not have to be insulin resistant to have PCOS. I have almost every other PCOS symptom, but I am thin, tested as not IR, never been overweight except for when I was preggers with DD. I believe being not IR is why I responded immediately to Metformin.
I asked for the total PCOS blood workup when I was TTC my DD, which included an insulin test.

Google "root cause of PCOS" and watch what comes up.

How can you respond well to metformin without first being insulin resistant or other form of diabetes/prediabetes?? How were you tested? Its not in simple blood test.

First you would be given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and if you had an impaired result the next step which is the "gold standard" for diagnosis of insulin resistance, a test called the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study. It is a complicated and expensive study in which insulin and glucose is infused intravenously at several different doses to see what levels of insulin control different levels of glucose. Did you have this done?

tina_d · 06-29-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkydiva77

Google "root cause of PCOS" and watch what comes up.

How can you respond well to metformin without first being insulin resistant or other form of diabetes/prediabetes??

I googled 'root cause of PCOS', and the respectable sites with research study backup, all say "believe to be or maybe". They don't post it as a definite. There are lots of PCOSers out there who do not show any symptoms of IR.

Met not only reduces hyperinsulinemia but has been found to reduce hyperandrogenemia. It's been proven not to lower blood sugar in those who are not IR and still work on the androgen levels. And not everyone with PCOS will be treated with Met.

For a better understanding on Met in the treatment of PCOS, then google 'Dr. Glueck PCOS Metformin'. He is the one credited with original studies on Met and infertility and is considered to be an expert in PCOS treatment and studies.

An interesting link: http://www.jewishhospitalcincinnati..../polycyst.html

SandV · 06-29-2008, 11:07 AM

I cannot find the other link, but just read an interesting article in regards to why doses and fasting glucose/insulin levels should be monitored when metformin is being administered as a preventative for diabetes or IR. Below is another link with some details about Metformin. Dr were approved to administer Metformin for PCOS patients if the patient has IR, Diabetes type 2 or potential to develop either (prevention).

http://www.medicinenet.com/metformin/article.htm

There has been no significant clinical trial size research completed as yet on the effects of Met for those who do NOT have diabetes.

tina_d · 06-29-2008, 02:29 PM

There are several ladies not dx-ed with IR on the forum who have been given an Rx for Met for infertility issues, to help get their cycle back on track. For some it has worked, for others it hasn't.