dream-e

Hello Ladies,

Just a few questions for you. I was diagnosed with PCOS nearly a year ago and I was wondering if being diagnosed is reason enough to be tested for diabetes/IR even if you aren't sure you need it? And if not are there warning signs to look for incase someday I will need to get tested? I would have asked the doctor but for some reason doctors seem to like to keep very tight lipped about things, they'll ask you if you have any questions...fully knowing that you have no clue what you've just been diagnosed with, and if you don't how do you know what questions to ask!...

ok enough of my rambling, thanks girls

Oana

Hi,

Well, the way I see it is that the only reason for testing is when you don't know the diagnosis .
So, yes, you'd want to be tested. There are simple tests (fasting glucose can rule out most diabetes cases, fasting insulin may be enough to diagnose IR). There are also more complicated tests, if the fasting insulin is normal, for example, you can have the 2-hour glucose tolerance test with insulin levels. This measures your glucose and insulin before and at several intervals after drinking a sweet drink with a controlled amount of glucose in it.

Most PCOS-ers are IR to some extent. Some physical symptoms are overweight, "apple shaped body", skin tags, AN (dark discoloreation in skin creases, often on neck), male-balding patterns, excess hair in unwanted places, anovulation..
Or you may have none of these (I barely had any, yet my 1-hour result clearly showed I was putting out too much insulin to control my sugar, so I am IR).

Diabetes definitely should be ruled out (or treated if necessary).

An IR diagnose may help your doc prescribe insulin sensitizing drugs such as metformin/glucophage, actos or avandia. These can help greatly with many PCOS issues.

I hope this helps. try to stay informed, many docs are just beginning to understand this syndrome.

Good luck!
Oana

__________________
34; TTC#1 for 2 years -- 4 ovulations, 3pgs, 2 mcs
2000mg glucophage XR since 2002
Roy Peter, September 13, 2004
conceived #2 spontaneously (even on a short met break!, and while breastfeeding Roy 6-8 times a day!)
Mary Anca -- August 16, 2006


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.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

dream-e

thank you for being helpful

cystermoon

What can I say that Oana hasn't?! I say it can't hurt to get everything tested and I don't know why doctors give a diagnosis of PCOS without running all the necessary bloodwork any way. It just makes sense to me that you should rule out everything. Doctors don't get me started!

As for signs, I had no clue I was IR until they told me I was diabetic. Then I realized all of those years of craving starchy foods and sweets coupled with my increase in weight when once I was thin was a big warning sign, not to mention feeling tired all of the time and not sleeping well. By the time I was diagnosed with diabetes I was apple shaped, weighing way too much to mention, and I had these marks that looked like stretch marks all over my stomach that were red and sent warning signs up for my doctor to check for diabetes. At the same time I was going to an RE who diagnosed me with the PCOS. So I am an example of being diagnosed backwards!

I say go get the tests. Not knowing whether you are IR now can lead to diabetes later. It doesn't just go away untreated. The worst that can happen is you get treated for it immediately and prevent diabetes, the best is to rule it out and be happy you aren't!

dream-e

ty very much i've been wondering if i should get tests done but thought i'd get someone elses opinion, very helpful...thanks