I've been diagnosed for years with PCOS/Insulin Resistance. Among other things, this has caused extreme irregularity with my periods, weight gain, etc. Now the trick, as many of you already know, with such a condition is that it is "caused" largely by being overweight, and the best "cure" for someone like me is to lose weight. But the IR usually makes it next to impossible to do this. It's a very frustrating battle. Now, I have no insurance, and no realistic chance of seeing a doctor anytime soon. The best method I have to monitor my condition is the regularity of my periods. A couple months ago I cut fish, eggs, and dairy out of my diet and have felt much better and lost a bit of weight since then. It seems to be the lifestyle that works best for my health, as far as I can tell. My cycle has become much more regular already. The other day a friend of mine linked me to this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3214100593069532942&subtitle=on&pr=goog-sl Watching it confirmed the idea that I'd had that my new diet was seriously helping my IR. And my cycle seems to further confirm it. But what I'm wondering is if there is some way to test my insulin levels and see how much difference it's actually making? If I went to a doc, I already know that the first thing they'd do to check me is send me to get a fasting insulin level. Is there any way I can cut the doc out of this scenario? Can I go directly to a phlebotomist for the bloodwork, without a doctor's order? What about those things I've seen in pharmacies before, the "home test" system for diabetic people? (I'm not sure whether they check insulin or blood sugar, or if they'd do me any good either way). I'd really like to know what the results would be!
You can't get a blood test unless you have a doctors orders. (Stupid if you ask me--most people don't get blood tests for fun!) If I were you, I would definately invest in an over-the-counter blood sugar tester. It doesn't test your insulin levels, but the blood sugar is what's important. A fasting (12 hours) blood sugar level over 130 is considered diabetic, though it takes two seperate tests 3 months apart to confirm the diagnosis. Is there anyway you could get some kind of health insurance? Medicaid? Anything? Don't get me started on the health care industry in this country; it's something I hope to change when I become a doctor. But until then, you really need to monitor yourself. You're young, and diabetes this early can increase your chances of needing more healthcare later on. Take care of yourself!
Yeah, well, I'm taking very good care of myself. I've done lots and lots and lots of reading, educated myself on my condition, tried a zillion things over the years until I found what seems to work. Even if I *were* able to go to a doctor, I would still be doing these things because I learned the hard way that I can't trust doctors to take care of me when I need it or do what's right. Yes, I understand that diabetes can lead to more serious problems. That's why I'm trying to make sure I don't *become* diabetic. IR is not diabetes, it's a warning sign. Given, a serious one - but it's much more reversible than full-fledged diabetes. Right now, judging from how I feel and how my body is acting, I'm healthier than I've been in years. I've lost more than 20 pounds in less than 3 months. I just wanted to gauge my progress on that other level if possible. No, I have zero chance of getting insured any time soon. Medicaid in my state is closed, except for minor children and prenatal care. I can't afford to pay all the cost myself. Believe it or not, some uninsured people really don't have any other option - we aren't just too lazy to look into it. You're right - the healthcare system in this country does suck. But I honestly don't believe doctors are going to change that. All doctors do, in reality, is get caught up in the bureaucracy and ultimately do the bidding of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies who hand over their paychecks.
I totally agree. I've had my share of health problems, and alot of doctors are assholes. When I'm a doctor, I plan on starting a bartering hospital...like a free hospital--I won't work through insurance at all, but will encourage my patients to barter a service or goods in exchange for their health care, so that way they don't feel like a burden, and our hospital would get needed support without relying on government aid. Ultimately, I think it is up to doctors--a health insurance company isn't going to care about you, the government isn't going to care about you, doctors are the ones that should put their patients first above anything, although most don't have the balls to do so. I'm definately not in it for the money. I'm in it because I've had my health screwed over, and I know what it's like to be in extreme pain for weeks on end, and to feel like no one understands what your going through. I didn't mean to make it sound like you weren't trying your best to take care of your health--good for you for losing the weight! My dad had prediabetes last year, and I guilt-tripped him into losing 25 pounds over the summer, and now he's fine.
I have been INSULIN DEPENDENT for 55 years ! I am 59 and still going strong and seeking someone to share my Rv with and also my homes ( wanting to start a commune ). Why don't you simply get a testing kit and test your own blood sugar levels when you want to ? it is easy and cheap. I know exactly how different foods affect my blood sugar by checking at REGULAR intervals each day. It is VERY hard ot lose weight when you are taking insulin, the insulin causes this situation. I have found over many years that the best solution to losing weight and maintianing a comfortable weight is exercise and then exercise some more. I ride a biccyle every where I go or walk . I use non-fat products and drink skim milk. I eat a LOT of healthy cereal and oatmeal and I also drink a lot of coffee. I control my weight in this way and yet keep my blood sugar under control and under control means not only not letting it get too high but not letting it get too low ! I live alone and that is dangerous and to be honest with oyu I have had more problems with my blood sugar going too low than too high. If you would like to discus this further please ocntact me at: wb5kyk@netquincy.us
Hummblebee, if you are willing could you share some more information about the diet you're having success with? I've 'probably' got PCOS (can't get a pukka diagnosis without a scan that I just can't afford right now) and have not had a lot of luck controlling it so far. Thank you!
Good Morning I basicaly eat cearal with skim milk for breakfast, the healthy cereal like Bran Flakes not the sugar coated stuff. I drink Ovaltine made with skim milk. That is breakfast. Lunch I again have a drink made wiht skim milk, like Ovaltine or my favorite is an Instant Breakfast. For a snack between each of these meals I eat a banana. For dinner I eat oatmeal with skim milk and drink another glass of Ovaltine with skim milk. Should you notice that your blood sugar is running too low try putting a LITTLE honey on your cereal or oatmeal. Be sure and eat a banana before you go to bed. If you exercise a lot, have sex, etc. EAT some peanut butter on a cracker cause this diet brings your bs down and you have to watch your amount of exercise or else you will have an insulin reaction due to your low bs. You might think this is a blant diet BUT try it and you will be amazed and before long you will find you are NOT hungry at all and for variety I change brands of cereal BUT always stick with the healthy ones. I would like ot hear more from you and again you can email me direct at : wb5kyk@netquincy.us Happy St. Patrick Day- Southernhermit and the cool dog
lol, the diet (I usually say "lifestyle") that works for me and the one that works for Southernhermit couldn't be more different! When I cut that stuff out of my diet, I had already quit eating all other animal products for several years (beef, pork, poultry, gelatin, venison, etc.). Years ago I also quit all soda, almost all caffeine (I drink coffee maybe a handful of times a year - when I really need it, medically, to stay awake, or if I have an especially bad cough/have trouble breathing as a broncho-dilator. Either way it never takes more than half a cup to do the job, I've become so sensitive to it), alcohol (with the exception of a single Guinness or other very stout beer on very rare occasions). So my latest dietary changes brought me pretty much to veganism. As far as what I eat, day to day, it varies a lot but here it is in a nutshell: I start every morning with a piece of fruit with protein. Sometimes this means an orange or grapefruit with a couple handfuls of sunflower seeds. Sometimes it means an apple or banana with peanut butter. I have a very hard time eating during the day usually, it makes me really nauseous. But such a breakfast does a good job of "switching on" my metabolism during the day. Otherwise my body stays in a "starvation mode" of sorts and conserves energy. Throughout the day, I almost never eat an actual lunch (if I do it's usually something like a spinach salad w/chopped nuts or seeds and some sort of vinaigrette) but instead I munch on healthy whole foods, like veggies and fruits, throughout the day. Hummus is very good too. When I eat grains, I only eat whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, etc.) When I eat a food thats high on the glycemic index I try to go for it's not-so-bad counterpart, like sweet potatoes instead of the Irish variety. Dinner is my biggest meal, and usually involves some sort of grain with a whole lot of veg and some protein. WW pasta with a homemade super-chunky sauce is good. Or just plain bread and "butter" (vegan margarine) and a big bowl of homemade veggie soup with lots of beans. Black-eyed peas and brown rice with vegan cornbread is great too. There's no end to the yummy meal ideas I've been coming up with, though, and they change up all the time. I drink only water, and lots of it. On the rare occasion I have a little juice or something I count it as a food. I moderate my soy intake as much as I can, tofu no more than once a week. I use rice milk in cooking, and on cereal/granola for a treat. Occasionally for a treat I'll have a "Tofutti Cutie" or something similar, that's small and hard to get carried away with. I exercise a lot. I walk, I run, I do push-ups and sit-ups, jump-rope sometimes... I also just try to stay generally active throughout the day - I've been gardening a lot, and teaching myself to spin poi, in addition to all my usual work duties (I'm self-employed as an artist) To give you an idea of the success I've had - in late December I weighed myself at 238. I weighed myself this morning (3/17) at 209. And this, after years of trying everything, and never seeming able to get below 221. Also to let you know - I don't miss the things I'm without in the least bit. That's all behind me. I don't even think about it - there are so may delicious foods I eat all the time, and I feel so much healthier all the way around. Keep in mind, though, that I am insulin *resistant* and Southernhermit is *dependent*, which may account for part of the difference in what works for us.
Forgot to mention - I eat an especially lot of veggies like spinach and broccoli, which are both high in protein and rich in vitamins. I top a lot of foods with flax seed, or nutritional yeast to try and get the essential fatty acids and b12 that I need. But every day, regardless, I take a women's multivitamin to be on the safe side!
Thank you, HummbleBee and SouthernHermit. I can't promise I'll have any success - I have major food craving issues, which make sticking to any sort of sensible diet pretty hard - but big thanks for taking the time to share what works for you! It's very much appreciated.
