No insulin resistance or pre-diabetes--taking Met anyway?

[LindaJane]

My RE wouldn't start me on met b/c my glucose tolerance test and insulin levels are normal. No insulin resistance, no nothing. Perfectly normal labs.

I actually got my family doc to prescribe it and took it for 6 mos with no AF. I must say I was a bit erratic in taking it though, especially the last couple of months.

I know there was one study where they did Met without IR and still showed higher success rates...but it was a small study.

Anyone doing Met without IR and had success?

I'm about 35 lbs overweight, but was dx with PCOS when I was not overweight at all.

I wonder if it is worthwhile to give Met another shot?

[steph]

Sorry,I'm not much help....but I have been on Met for a year and no AF. I also am not IR or to over weight. I am a little but not by much.Met has helped me stabilize some of mood swings due to not eating ......when I'm not on Met I kindof stay irritable.KWIM?

[LindaJane]

No, that helps a lot! I would love to hear from everyone without IR/obesity who is on Met and do my own little straw poll about how many people in that group have success with Met.

My instinct is that if it ain't broke, fixing it won't fix much, you know? The scientist in me has a hard time believing that Meftormin will do anything at all for someone with normal insulin response and blood sugar. But if it's working for a lot of people with normal sugars and insulin, I might become a believer!

Anyone else??

[steph]

Well,the only way I can really tell is by my mood swings. Here lately I have been a grouch. :evil: I think I might be getting ready for AF???I'll let ya know! :wink:

[peggy]

I'm taking Met despite normal blood tests. I'm also post-menopause, so AF and pregnancy no longer an issue. However, I've got a (long) medical history of PCOS symptoms. I seem to have been able to control the condition through good eating and lots of exercise.

I was advised by a specialist to take Met as it can help prevent heart problems, etc., as you age. It's only been about a month since I'm up to full dose, 1700 (mgs?) per day, so it's too soon to be sure what's happening, but so far, I feel GREAT on Met....

Biggest improvement has been in the mood swings (chronic irritability, late afternoon rage/depression) and in my skin (that happened as soon as I started the Met.) I also have much more energy; I used to be so tired I'd collapse into bed after dinner. I also seem to be able to eat more like a normal person! Before, if I didn't have mid morning and mid-afternoon snacks, I would get really low blood sugar levels...very bottom end of normal range.

The local doctor who is helping me with this is also sceptical. She was surprised that my blood sugar levels didn't react more to the med, since in diabetics it lowers blood sugar. What it seems to do for me is make my own insulin work more effeciently. I really do feel alot better!

No effect yet on weight, but I haven't changed my diet. I'm thinking about SBeach to see if I can take off the excess 10-15 lbs. that I've never been able to shake despite lots of effort. (With lots of exercise I keep my BMI at 25%) Was told that it might take 6 months on Met before metabolism shifts. No change in excess hair...gave up hope that that would improve along time ago (sigh!).

I went for years without meds, managed to "get by", and even had two kids. However, I am thrilled there's finally a medical "crutch" that seems to improve how I feel each day. Hope this helps with your decision on the Meds.

[Asi]

I asked my doc about taking Met when I was TTC. I thought it might help. She talked me out of it. She said for somebody skinny it might not be worth it (meaning the risks for side effect are high and it might not help much). She wanted me to really give my body the chance to do it on its own before adding Met. I got pg all my myself and I am glad I never took it. I cut down suger and refined carbs and exercised a lot. It might have done the trick.

[travellingPeg]

Hi--

This is my first post, and I'm glad I found this resource!

I'm writing because someone had asked about those who were overweight but not insulin-resistant who were taking Metformin.

I've had my diagnosis for over ten years, but it was just two weeks ago that a doctor (a Nurse Practitioner actually) finally gave me options.

She put me on 1000mgs/day, then sent me to a dietician (at my insistence) who put me basically on South Beach.

Six days in, and I'm down four pounds. Not sure though if that's the Met, the diet, or the nausea I've had getting used to the drug....

[Ashton Morgan]

I have not been officially diagnosed as insulin resistant. However, my OBGYN said that he believes that I'm insulin resistant to some degree and PCOS is caused by insulin resisitance. If you weren't IR to some degree, you wouldn't have PCOS. Some people like myself are IR to a very small degree and it does not affect blood tests and lab work (but it's enough to affect fertility, acne, mood swings, fatigue, hairline, yada yada yada).

In my opinion I'm about 20lbs overweight (mostly need to hit the gym and tone up after giving birth), but most people tell me that my size is fine the way it is. I currently take 1500mg of Glucophage XR (can't do generic Metformin...causes diarreah AND vomitting, not to mention cramps that feel like menstral cramps). I also take 1000mg of cinnamon. My labs (blood sugar, cholesterol) were normal before diagnosis and are normal now.

I was diagnosed because of trouble conceiving (without attention paid to my acne, hairline that was tryin to recede, moodiness, and fatigue). Glucophage caused my menstral cycles to regulate (birth control pills had regulated them prior). I could track my ovulation from month to month. I conceived after 3 months on Glucophage (side effects were horrendous for me!).

So, in my opinion, all of us are IR. Some just aren't as bad as others. But those hormones definitely need to be regulated and controling your insulin resistance is how it's done. Met/Gluco (or treatment in general) are not just for the women who suffer from obesity. It's for ALL of us who have it. If we don't control it now, it will only get worse and cause other REAL problems...DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, OVARIAN CANCER. PCOS should not be ignored just because you're not overweight.

[jgrl]

hey everyone

i too have been on met since april at 1500 mg and no af. no insulin resistance as per oral glucose tolerance test and fasting blood sugar. However, clinically i am insulin resistant according to my RE (a bit hairy and many cyst on ovaries). i am not too symptomatic and just a bit overweight (15 lbs in my opinion) although everryone tells me that i am fine. i notice i am less moody on met but other than that i have still not gotten my period without provera induction...............

good luck to u all and hang in there..........the symptoms do go away.

[keebie]

My fasting glucose levels were normal. And so were my fasting insulin levels, lipid and cholesteral, thyroid levels, DHEAS, PROLACTIN, LIVER FUNCTION TESTS, and so on and so forth.
Everything was normal!! I dont even have diabetes and neither am I borderline diabetic.
However, I am 50 pounds overwight!!
I gained 50 pounds, four years ago, due to my pregnancy and despite working out and eating right this past year, I have only been able to drop 15 pounds!!!
So, my doctor put me on Glucophage. (Not birth control pills because I have high blood pressure.)
In any case, I am to take one in the morning and one at night.
(Tomorrow will be my first day.)
He says I may be insulin resistant, despite what my tests say.

I used to be on birth control pills and was comfortably on them for two years. But, it was discovered that I had high blood pressure, and so I had to stop taking them and when I did, I had abnormal bleeding for the next three months. Sometimes, I would spot for days(7-8).
Other times, I would bleed, like a period, for two-three days and than spot for the next 4 or 5 days!!! And than, during those times, I would spot or bleed in between periods.

That has never happened to me before!!!

So, I hope this helps.
I'll let you all know how it works out for me.

[hopeinme]

I also had the "normal" talk. My AF will last for 1+ months. My Doctor said I am just one of those people who has a long AF...

Umm ya.

I feel your frustration!

My endo just started me on Met yesterday(i talked her into it). my Glucose test was ok. We are going to check my Insulin in the next couple of months. I am also coming off BCP's to see if taht changes anything.

[IowaGirl]

I'm borderline prediabetic and very overweight. I also have a lot of spotting between my periods.

Since I've started on Met, the spotting has completely stopped between periods and I've been losing about 2 lbs a week. (Changed my diet but still could exercise more...)

I am still having some of the Met effects when I eat certain foods. Fortunately, they're usually the bad foods so that helps create a natural aversion for those foods! lol

[IowaGirl]

Also... I think I'm ovulating again with the help of Met and I seem to be a bit more regular. I have always been somewhat regular timing wise, but flow wise was all OVER the place. One month would be EXTREMELY light and a few days, and the next would be super heavy and several (9-11) days.

I never knew I would enjoy having REGULAR periods!! :lol:

[peridorian]

I'm 20 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS nearly 8 years ago. My endocrinologist put me on Met earlier this year and because of my lacking financial situation, I let it dwindle away and didn't follow through. Now she's starting me again after normal bloodwork showing no signs of IR and she hasn't mentioned anything about pre-diabetes. I can't really tell you anything particular about the last time I took it, but I did begin to lose weight. I'm not trying to conceive yet and I'm on the birth control pill to regulate my period ... my endo's looking forward to my losing weight and getting most of my hormone levels in control to help keep me healthy for when I do want to conceive.

So, maybe we can brave this together. ;) Have our own little unofficial medical study, lol. =)