Low Blood Sugar after the Glucose Challenge Test

[Brenda33]

I'm not sure where would be the correct place to post this but I'm hoping someone has some insight.

When getting my infertility workup, I took a 2 hour fasting Glucose Challenge Test. My fasting insulin level was normal but my level after the two hour was low (65). I remember that I felt so dizzy and barely made it home after the test.

I have many PCOS symptoms, overweight, belly fat, acne, AF about once a year, polycystic ovaries, facial hair, diabetes in the family.

My RE put me on 1500mg of Met XR. The only effect it seems to be having is making me very tired. I have also cut out sugar and non-complex carbs. Which has made me even more tired.

Has anyone else gotten a similar result on this test? My RE said that it showed I was insulin resistant.

Any ideas on what could help me feel better?

Thanks,
Brenda

[High_Elven]

How long have you been on the met? I remember feeling really tired when I first started too.

Although most with IR have elevated glucose after 2 hours what most likely happens with you that your body is so used to having to pump out a ton of insulin after meals to get your glucose levels back to normal. The insulin levels stay elevated longer than needed for the glucose levels which in turn makes the glucose go too low. You need the extra insulin because your cells are resistant to it so your body sees the glucose staying in your blood, and it pumps out more insulin and more and more until your glucose goes back to normal.

[Brenda33]

Thanks for the response, that makes sense.

I've been on Met since the end of November. Hopefully it will get better with time.

[Noelia]

I just did the GTT today and scored 64 while fasting and 69 two hours after food with sugar. Not exactly sure what this means. Trying to figure out...

[Leslie8007]

i too am insulin resistant and maybe your met is to high? I am on 850 mg 2x daily and as long as i eat a high protein breakfast, balnced lunch and a high protein dinner i am usually fine.......... missing a meal is the problem usually for me

[Wrong_Diagnosis]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but this is something that has been concerning me.

DX'd w/ PCOS 10 years ago - probably for about 8 years on Spironolactone. Just added Met a week or so ago.

In May, I had a fasting blood sugar drawn and it was normal. If anything - I've had issues in the past w/ low blood sugar, not high. (I don't get yeast infections, if I do eat something sugary - I get the "pop and drop".)

Is normal blood sugar typical with IR?

I know I have a lot of the other symptoms:
hirsutism
polycystic ovaries
belly fat
hard time dropping weight, even w/ diet/exercise
prior to any tx - when I would weight train, I built muscle like a guy
irregular visits from AF

[wildflower]

Wrong - Not sure what the pop and drop is?

When they are doing the GTT, they want to look at your insulin levels, not just you glucose levels. The best test, although many docs don't do this, is to check your insulin levels every 1/2 hour to see what they are doing because sometimes the fasting and 2 hour levels are normal and don't give a good indication of IR because your insulin has spiked and returned to normal within 2 hours.

Yeast infections aren't necessarily a symptom of IR, although they can be combined in some women (myself included).

It may be too late to respond to the initial poster - but being tired may be a sign that you aren't getting enough carbs. Just because you are IR doesn't mean that you should cut out all carbs. Carbs are energy. You want to space them out evenly throughout the day so that you aren't causing fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Too many carbs, blood sugar spikes, too little and it drops. You want to eat every 2-3 hours. 15-30g of carbs for snacks and 45-60g of carbs at mealtime. It's also important to eat protein with each meal. Protein helps to regulate your blood sugar by taking longer to digest.

[Leslie8007]

I by no means ever would encourage a no carb diet it messes with your nutrirional balance. For me eating more protein than carbs works well to keep mine level.

[dixiegirl]

after my overnight fast, my fasting blood glucose was 47! and yes, i was definitely shaky and faint when i left the dr. office....i was told met would straighten it out...i'm waiting...no help i know, just offering compassion and understanding...