I was just wondering what everyone's fasting insulin is. I would kind of like to compare mine with them. Mine is <2 (less than 2).
Sabrina
__________________ Thin, oily skin, excess hair, mild acne.
DX Idiopathic Hirsutism
Have regular cycles, apparently have very low fasting insulin (below normal), low free testosterone (though total testosterone higher than recommended-in that wonderfully accurate normal range but high for a female), DHEAS was the highest androgen. No polycystic appearing ovaries. ????
my insulin level was 7, my doc told me normal levels were b/t 5-25 sounds like you are hypoglycemic sp? the oppositie of pcos.
this is why my doc wouldn't prescribe met for me, b/c said it would be dangerous to lower my levels
I thought mine was very low too so I thought I would ask about other peoples levels. I don't know what the normal range for my labs are yet (though my lab had very very standard so far), but my doctor didn't seem to be concerned at all.
I should also mention that 3 doctors don't think I have PCOS or any other endocrine disorders although I do have excess hair, oily skin, and mild acne. It is probably caused by a high normal adrenal gland activity.
Hypoglycemia is when blood sugar is low and not insulin levels. PCOS is related to hyperinsulemia (sp?) or (some will say)ovaries that are sensitive to normal insulin levels. My blood sugar levels are on the low side of normal, but they remain there and steady. I think in hypoglycemia the sugar rises and then drops rapidly to below normal levels after an hour or two of eating lots of carbs. There are people with PCOS who are IR and hypoglycemic. So the two may be linked. Also diabetes and hypoglycemia are linked. It seems like the insulin is overcompensating. I hope I've understood that all correctly.
There are natural ways to help control your symptoms other than using Met. The alternative remedies board actually is pretty good. You can take GTF Chromium (200mg), Soy Lecithin, Carob powder, and others to help.
Sabrina
__________________ Thin, oily skin, excess hair, mild acne.
DX Idiopathic Hirsutism
Have regular cycles, apparently have very low fasting insulin (below normal), low free testosterone (though total testosterone higher than recommended-in that wonderfully accurate normal range but high for a female), DHEAS was the highest androgen. No polycystic appearing ovaries. ????
My fasting insulin was 5. I do react severely though to carbs and Metformin has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!
Blessings!
Candace
Age 35
2 children 7 and 6 with treatment
Married 15 years
Yasmin BCP (9 cycles)
Glucophage XR (19 months) 2000 mgs
Chromium 200 mgs
Flaxeed Oil 1000 mgs
Diagnosed @ age 21-Rediagnosed at 34 when my symptoms went CRAZY
__________________ Candace
Age 38
2 children 10 and 9 with treatment
Married 18 years
Glucophage XR 2000 mgs 3 years (Switched to Generic Metformin XR on Dec. 23 rd)
Yasmin BCP 3 years
Diagnosed at age 21 rediagnosed at 34 due to all symptoms.
Normal weight, feeling great! 5'0 113 lbs
Curves for Women 3 X a week
My fasting insulin was less than 2 also. I have always been really thin so I didn't think I was going to have high insulin or sugar problems. I went in for the GTT test and all my sugar levels were smack dab in the middle of normal range. That was about a year ago when I was first diagnosed with PCOS. My doc didn't want to prescribe Met because he said if anything, they should be giving me insulin. Now, here I am one year later, with 2 failed clomid cycles, 3 failed inj. cycles, and 1 failed IVF. He put me on Met this week as a last resort. So far, no side effects. I just get hungrier more often.
Laura B.
__________________ Laura
Mom to IVF/FET miracles Katelyn and Suzanna
12/13/02
Oh, yeah...I forgot! According to _PCOS: The Hidden Epidemic_ by Dr. Samuel Thatcher, the Fasting glucose:insulin ratio is also important. To quote him directly: "A ratio of less than 4.5 is suggestive of insulin resistance. While there is considerable overlap between normal and abnormal values, the test is easy and reasonably reliable." (p.153)
My fasting glucose was 83 and my insulin was 6, resulting in a ratio of almost 14:1
Like Doobie, I had wished for something "wrong" that could be "fixed."
My fasting insulin was 2.3 and my glucose was around 70 (can't remember). Doctor told me not to start taking the metformin that he had already prescribed.
__________________ Me: 29
DH: 29
Diagnosed PCOS 2/02
2nd round Clomid 50 mg worked!
I am pregnant! EDD 1/12/03
(Thincyster, no IR)
Poll: What was your fasting insulin? 
