I added an *update* to my last post that after the glucose test last week, the doctor's office called to let me know that I'm "very insulin resistant." We set up a follow-up appointment for today to go over the results and discuss what to do going forward.
Before we get to that, what does insulin resistant mean?
A resistance to the hormone insulin, resulting in increasing blood sugar.The hormone insulin helps control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. With insulin resistance, the body's cells don't respond normally to insulin. Glucose can't enter the cells as easily, so it builds up in the blood. This can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss and exercise can help reverse insulin resistance.
Great. Just...great.
One of the biggest issues with IR is that it leads to Type-2 Diabetes. It's basically pre-pre-diabetes, especially for someone like me since I'm genetically inclined to having diabetes (I have it on both sides of my family and am Hispanic) and love all things carbs. I plan to place complete blame on the people who gave me my DNA and not my eating habits. 😁
Speaking of food...cutting carbs (foods high on the glycemic index, which spike blood sugar), exercise and/or medication that helps your cells be more responsive to insulin are the treatments for insulin resistance. Right now I'm opting for trying to lower my glucose levels by diet and exercise alone, in hopes of avoiding the medication route. The plan is to take the glucose test again in 3 months, at which point we'll reassess the best options going forward.
Some other good and bad news: the high amounts of insulin produced by my pancreas due to the IR is likely the culprit for my feminine health/PMS issues, since insulin messes with hormone levels (good news)...but it can take 6-12 months AFTER getting the glucose levels under control to alleviate the PMS symptoms (clearly bad news).
Needless to say, I'm not super happy at the moment.
Yes, it could be worse and this is likely the answer I've been looking for in dealing with my hormone imbalance, but staring down yet another year of dealing with worsening cramps, etc kinda kills any enthusiasm on my part for potentially finding a solution.
~ Katie Q. 🐧
Biology sucks, man.
I ran across this and it cracked me up. My apologies to the non-lying men in my life. 😎
This comment from one of the people you blamed for your DNA: you know how I blame myself for everything! Well thanks for confirming that it is all my fault! :( You can also blame me for your love of carbs. My excuse is I am half Italian and my Italian Grandmother was a great cook, as was my Mom. Well- heck, consider me your partner in the eating healthy and exercising efforts. Sigh. It'll be fine (ala Grace Kelly's - a variation on her line in High Society). :)
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