Misery and Mirth

Insulin Resistance

Well I am on a new medicine now, Metformin (generic version of Glucophage). Dr. Nemeth my primary physicians prescribed it Monday to treat my severe insulin resistance. She said she has never had a patient with such a high fasting insulin level as mine, 35.2 mIU/L!!! Also my triglycerides tested a bit high and my HDL (good cholesterol) a bit low. They were both in the normal ranges in April of this year.

Most doctors agree that a Fasting insulin of 10 -13 generally indicates some insulin resistance and levels above 13 indicate greater insulin resistance, especially if patients have characteristic symptoms of insulin resistance. Though most laboratory standards still record Less than 29 as the “normal” range.

I know I had some insulin resistance prior to this year, but the use of Prednisone to treat my ITP (blood platelet disease) caused my system to get way out of control. So now I have raging Metabolic Syndrome/ Insulin Resistance Syndrome.

I started on half doses of Metformin for Tuesday and Wednesday. Today I am on full doses and feeling the characteristic side effects; nausea and “loose stools.” The side effects usually only last a few days to a week as the body adjust, but are minor compared to the expected benefits. And I have been much more bothered by the really nasty sinus and chest cold I’ve had for past week than the medicine.

Dr. Nemeth said my fasting insulin is so high that my insulin is acting as a barrier, a prison that won’t allow my fat to be burned / released and that any food energy coming in is immediately snatched up and stored too. That’s why I have had such rapid weight gain in the last year and would continue to gain if I did not take this medicine. Plus such high insulin causes damage to all kinds of cells and systems and untreated can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Hopefully use of this medicine along with a healthy diet and an increase in exercise will yield a substantial weight loss. I know it would/will take me years to get to the body mass index chart ideal weight of 98-127 lbs, for a woman 5 feet tall. I doubt I will EVER be that thin and I am fine with that. I just want to be a more moderate healthy weight. MY primary goal is to lose 100 lbs of FAT by next September. So if I do actually get married next October I will have a month to find and fit a gown and look ravishingly beautiful in my Wedding Attire. :OP Afterwards I will work on losing more weight, how much will be determined on what my doctor and I deem it necessary.