Insulin resistance, testosterone, etc.

[California Jack]

I just got the results of my blood work from my physical. Doc says they show insulin resistance. I told him that perhaps it was because I have not been low carb during the holidays. He said he looks at some protein that marks blood sugar levels over a 3month period. That was elevated too. My triglycerides were thru the roof. I will follow a strict low carb diet. Doc also wants me to take Metformin. Anyone know anything about it? Maybe this explains my expanding girth.

Also, my testosterone was low. It was 257, not sure of the units. Doc said the norm was300 to 1000. Wants me to use testosterone cream.

Any input? Any good sites about IR? Can IR affect blood pressure?

[proactive]

Don't have experience with any of the above, Jack. I hope you have good results with the low carbing. I'm going to have some bloodwork done in a couple weeks myself.

[Eyescream]

Never heard of metformin, but I've been using Androgel for a while. Be aware that probably you're going to be on it until you decide that you want to be old and weak, as your testosterone levels – if they're low – won't generally correct themselves to any real degree.

257 ng/dl is about where I was, too. My doctor said that, at my age, he really wanted my total testosterone levels to be between 500 and 600 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter).

The gel works okay, I guess. I really need to be tested again to make sure my levels are still up. It's expensive, as there is no generic yet. I'd almost rather do the injections just to save a little money.

Probably with strict paleo and getting your testosterone levels right you'll see your insulin resistance correct itself. Don't be surprised, as there are chemical chain reactions that involves testosterone, HGH, IGF-1, and insulin all.

[txinvestigator]

Metformin will help your insulin levels.

M suggest reading a book called Enter The Zone by Barry Sears. Many people think it is just a diet book, but his science is real.

My dad was put on Metformin several years ago as a result of Adult Onset Diabetis (Type 2), and by following the Zone plan he was taken off the medication by his physician. He also lost weight and lowered his LDL and raised his HDL.

Caffeine will raise your insulin also. I suggest de-caffeinated drinks. Alcohol is treated like sugar in the blood, so keep that in moderation.

Good luck to you man, you can do it.

[California Jack]

Thanks fellas. I am gonna have a hard time staying away from beer.

[dgg9]

Thanks fellas. I am gonna have a hard time staying away from beer.

Alcohol goes directly to high triglycerides, not just because it's all simple carbs (which it is), but because of the way alcohol is metabolized.

[California Jack]

Any specific exercise protocol for IR?

[dgg9]

Any specific exercise protocol for IR?

Not that I know of. It's more about diet. Exercise only ties into this by:

1. Losing weight moves all readings in the right direction, and

2. Exercise raises HDL, a good thing in general but not what you're addressing.

[California Jack]

Loosing weight or fat?

[proactive]

Thanks fellas. I am gonna have a hard time staying away from beer.

That's probably becoming a reality for me as well. I love me some IPA, but it seems to be a tipping point.

[dgg9]

Loosing weight or fat?

Fat of course. "Losing weight" is shorthand for that. Most people with 5% BF aren't saying "I should lose 15 lbs of pure muscle so I can be healthier."

[Eyescream]

Loosing weight or fat?

I suspect, for the purposes of our discussion here, that recomposition so that your weight is composed more of lean mass than it is fat is just as good as "losing weight".

[California Jack]

Eye, are you sure about that? I have never been able to find a clear answer to that.

[Eyescream]

Not even a little bit, but it makes perfect sense to me.

[California Jack]

Maybe it makes sense in regards IR, but I am not sure in regards to other health issues. It seems that the heart would have to work harder to feed blood to a 250# man at5% than a 200# man at 20%.

I have asked this question numerous times to people and have never got a definitive answer. Maybe at my follow up appointment I"ll ask the doc.

[Eyescream]

When you consider differences in scale like that you're probably right.

So let's just concentrate on losing fat for this conversation, like dgg9 said.

[anxietycoachjohn]

too sad about your result.. You need really to see your doctor. in order to help you..:wavey:

[California Jack]

When you consider differences in scale like that you're probably right.

So let's just concentrate on losing fat for this conversation, like dgg9 said.

I suppose you are right about the scale. But would I be better off if I lost 20# of fat along with say7# of muscle than I would be to loose20 of each?

[Eyescream]

I suppose you are right about the scale. But would I be better off if I lost 20# of fat along with say7# of muscle than I would be to loose20 of each?

Yes.

:rofl:

[BradD]

Maybe it makes sense in regards IR, but I am not sure in regards to other health issues. It seems that the heart would have to work harder to feed blood to a 250# man at5% than a 200# man at 20%.

I have asked this question numerous times to people and have never got a definitive answer. Maybe at my follow up appointment I"ll ask the doc.
I've never seen a definitive answere to that either, and I suspect nobody knows for sure. From a layperson's standpoint, it seems to me that your 250 lb vs 200 lb idea makes sense. I've had MDs tell me stuff like that FWIW, that I would probably live a lot longer if I was 150-160 lb than at 185 with 10% BF, even if I had to lose muscle. I know wikipedia isn't exact a peer reviewed jnl, but the following is on the subject of calorie restriction and kind of goes along with what we're talking about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie_restriction

I'd be very interested to know if following strict paleo with IFing would help. Something like taking the three SimpleFit meals and eating them for dinner. Or, 1.5 of those meals at 2 pm and the other 1.5 at 6 pm. That's about what I used to do and I think my IR improved quite a bit. I was never tested to pin down if I had IR in the first place, but I was having to eat every 2-3 hours max or else I felt like I was gonna fall over dead. One MD told me that I definitely had hypoglycemia just from the symptoms. You'll probably remember that I IFed for a good long while, probably through most or all of 2007, and all of those problems seemed to go away. I can go 24 hours now without eating and have no blood sugar issues. As an interesting aside, that adaptation seems pretty persistent. Due to all of my excuses, I've done a terrible job with exercise and diet for months now--probably close to a year--and my blood sugar still seems rock solid. I've fasted 24 hours several times over the last couple of months and it really wasn't a challenge. 18-20 hours pretty routinely just from not having time to eat.

I look forward to seeing what you find that helps this stuff out.

[California Jack]

One thing I haven't mentoined yet. They also did a body analysis on me. Not flotation, one of the electronic gizmos. While I know they aren't as accurate, I'm fairly confident that the MDs model was better than my bathroom scale. Anyhow, I was over 20% BF (pride refuses to let me tell how much over :embarassed:). They said I shlould loose some amount of fat, do not remember exactly how much, but they also said that my muscle mass was very good and that I should not gain anymore muscle mass. Not sure what I should infer from that.

I have a follow-up next month, I'll ask the doc about what he meant by that.

One more thing, my BP was whacky. Anyone know if BP is affected by IR?

[txinvestigator]

.

One more thing, my BP was whacky. Anyone know if BP is affected by IR?

Extra body fat can increase blood pressure. My wife is 5'4" and about 115 now. After the birth of our daughter 14 years ago,my wife began to put on weight. She also would sweat when everyone else was cold, and got dark lines on her skin in areas where the skin folds (inside of elbow, inside of knees, etc) She has a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It took her getting to an endocrinologist to find out that her insulin was over 70 IU (normal is < 10) and she had decreased estrogen and increased testosterone. Her BP was up also. Her glucose levels are fine, but the DR put her on Metformin for the insulin and a low does birth control for the estrogen/testosterone issue.

The weight came off and the other symptoms subsided; however, she can tell she still has the insulin resistance. If she eats too many carbs she can "feel" it. She will always need the Metformin. Her Endo told us that high levels of insulin DOES cause High BP.

[sixgun2]

Just a word of caution, do not take metforman on a empty stomach. One of the aggravating side effects of it is, it has a tendency to make you sh^T like a race horse.:embarassed:

[AA#5]

I just got the results of my blood work from my physical. Doc says they show insulin resistance. I told him that perhaps it was because I have not been low carb during the holidays. He said he looks at some protein that marks blood sugar levels over a 3month period. That was elevated too. My triglycerides were thru the roof. I will follow a strict low carb diet. Doc also wants me to take Metformin. Anyone know anything about it? Maybe this explains my expanding girth.

Also, my testosterone was low. It was 257, not sure of the units. Doc said the norm was300 to 1000. Wants me to use testosterone cream.

Any input? Any good sites about IR? Can IR affect blood pressure?

The test your doc was referring to was probably "A1c." It indicates what your blood sugar has been over the past 3 months - the life span of a red blood cell. Simply put, it says what percentage of your red blood cells are sugar coated - have sugar molecules stuck to them. An A1c of 4% - 6% is considered normal - non diabetic. Your doc may have diagnosed you as "pre diabetic" or "Diabetic" based on your A1c and fasting glucose level. (Under 100 - non diabetic, 100-125 - "Pre Diabetic" & over 125 - diabetic.

Obesity, especially abdominal fat, puts you at higher risk for diabetes. So does a high-fat diet that includes processed foods....pretty much the "Standard American Diet."

You're fortunate to know this now so you can make lifestyle changes before it progresses to diabetes.

Metformin is commonly prescribed to lower blood sugar but remember.....that alone will not lower risk factors. A high-fiber diet with complex carbohydrates (instead of refined carbohydrates) is what helps. Also, 20-40 min./day of exercise. Walking, weightlifting, any type of activity helps insulin do its job - which is to escort sugar out of the blood (where too much can do harm) & into muscles (where it's used for energy).

http://www.hoptechno.com/book6.htm

http://www.weightlossforall.com/complex-carbs.htm

[California Jack]

Just a word of caution, do not take metforman on a empty stomach. One of the aggravating side effects of it is, it has a tendency to make you sh^T like a race horse.:embarassed:

Yeah. Doc warned me about this. He has me taking half doses for a week to get my system adjusted.

Thanks for the info AA.

[XDguy]

Another good website is http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/
Absolutely a lot of great information about diabetes and diets for diabetics. I lost about 25lb following the suggestions there, and dropped my A1c from 7 to mid-5 levels in about 6 months. Triglycerides dropped to low-normal, and blood pressure medication needed to be lowered also.
I cut out most processed sugar, kept carbs to a very low amount. I'm finding I can add a few more back into my diet with no problems. Whey protein shakes with some blueberries and almond milk are great!

[California Jack]

Thanks for the link xd.