Metabolic Syndrome / Insulin Resistance - Anyone here dealing with it?

[forrest_and_trees]

Just curious if anyone here has had any experience with Metabolic Syndrome / Insulin Resistance. If so, what have you done about it? Have you had any success treating it? Have you tried taking Chromium Picolinate and if so, what were your results? Have you taken DHEA and if so, have you had any adverse effects?

Thanks!

F/T

[PPC]

My brother discovered he had insulin resistance several months ago. He's 43, a little overweight - maybe 30 pounds over but he's tall at 6 ft 5. He had a chronic ear infection that would not heal despite several rounds of antibiotics. It lasted for several months, despite him seeing two specialists. It spread to the bones in his skull. My brother started reading for himself and found that this usually only happens in diabetics. He had his morning BS tested and it was 119. He was shocked.

Since that time he has gone on a strict reduced carb diet, completely eliminated sugar, lots of coconut oil, good proteins and non starchy veges and berries as his only carbs. His fasting BS levels came down and held at around 100 - a good start, but his chronic infection still persisted. He started LDN (low dose naltrexone) to boost his immune system and things seemed to get a bit better but not all the way.

He did try chomium supplements and cinammon. It did not seem to have any effect on his BS readings but some do find help with that. He remains on those because he thinks they can't do any harm and are probably doing some good. He also tried bitter melon and finds it has a modest impact.

He started DHEA about a month ago and the infection completely disappeared shortly thereafter. He has lost 20 pounds and his fasting blood sugar is usually in the 90's now. Apparently a shortage of dhea and the body's Killer T cells are not programmed properly - they essentially can't read the map and insulin resistance only makes this worse. Add in dhea and the immune system has programming, essentially, the infection fighting cells know what to do again. It's been an amazing turn around for him.

My brother seems to do fine on oral DHEA 25mg BID. It actually improves his morning wood. (I only know because we talk about such things LOL) It does not seem to raise estrogen for him as it does in some males - namely estrone. Some guys have to use a transdermal due to that problem. My husband cannot tolerate oral dhea.

What sort of diet are you on? Is your fasting BS high?

[forrest_and_trees]

Hey PPC, thanks for the reply.

That's the interesting part, my BS has been good, 70's -90's fasting; even after eating it's only about 140's - 170's and drops back down to 90's with in two hours after eating. However I've found that it's possible to have Metabolic Syndrome even with normal BS levels. For some time now I've been trying to pin down my fatigue issues. I have many of the classic symptoms. But what really caught my eye is fatigue after eating. This has been a problem for some time now which is why I know my BS numbers because I'd been watching them for that very reason.

Unfortunately, while looking at the methods of treatment, there doesn't seem to be any consistent or real medical regimen, mainly alternative-med approaches using OTC supplements, diet and exercise which is why I posted here. I'm hoping to find something that's working for others. Unfortunately, your brother seems to be in a different boat than me.

[n00bs]

What's wrong with " alternate therapies?"
They are the ones that actually work for situations like yours.

I'm on a phone I will post more later but for starters ban all caffeine from your diet. Add vitamin c, chromium and a good Multi. Eat non processed foods and you are already on your way.

[n00bs]

Have you had cortisol tested?

Fatique after eating could be many things even adrenal problems.

[forrest_and_trees]

All in all, there's nothing wrong with alternative however, it can be a bit vague at times. It would be nice to find something with clinical studies that show verifiable and repeatable results. There tends to be quite a few approaches, some of which contradict each other and not all work; which is why I was hoping to find some input from people on this site who have first hand knowledge. For example, the first and most widely mentioned treatment I came across was Chromium Picolinate. That is until I read a clinical study which shows no definitive proof it actually works. Next is GTF Chromium. I'm still looking for some sort of reputable evidence this works. Another good example is how I came across this to begin with. I was searching for side effects of excess DHEA and guess what, one of them is it can *cause* Metabolic Syndrome. Then I hear from PPC that her brother had it and DHEA actual *helped*... So you can see where it can get confusing and it's difficult to hang your hat on one treatment or another.

Yes I have had my cortisol checked, first time was about a year ago and most recent was last week; because I thought for sure it might be adrenal related. Guess what, both came up smack-dab right in the middle of the range. So on to next possible cause. Several sites offer the following criteria as being positive for Metabolic Syndrome:

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of any three of the following conditions:

* waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women
* triglyceride levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or above, or taking medication for elevated triglyceride levels
* HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women, or taking medication for low HDL levels
* blood pressure levels of 130/85 or above, or taking medication for elevated blood pressure levels
* fasting blood glucose levels of 100 mg/dL or above, or taking medication for elevated blood glucose levels

Based on that criteria, I hit 3 with a 4th damn close. So based on it, I am positive for Metabolic Syndrome. I realize the only way to know for sure is to get a blood test which I've already found on PrivateMDLabs.com and intend to get it done next week.

I'm just hoping to get some conclusive approaches that I can try, otherwise it's down to simple, *diet and exercise* which is fine, but it's too difficult to measure progress and can take many months to see any quantifiable results. Then there is the question of how much is enough? How much exercise is enough? How much do you have to cut back on your eating habits to be enough. And even if you do manage to find the answer to those two questions, is it realistically sustainable for the rest of your life? It's a lot to ask. That's what's nice about HRT, you take the "stuff", begin to feel different, get tested and adjust accordingly. That's much easier to work with. Not to mention, it's a chicken and the egg thing as well. Metabolic Syndrome causes you to gain weight and be fatigued, but to get over it, you have to loose weight which requires energy and stamina. It would be nice if there were a supplement to help offset the cause which would assist in the process of getting healthy

[PPC]

If your triglycerides are high, that indicates too many carbs in your diet. We cannot underestimate the power of diet. It's huge. Also excercise, pushing glucose into all the cells will help with fatigue. Even if you don't just sit after a meal and go for a walk, that can go a long way.

I love the way I eat, to me it is not a diet - but that sounds so cliche. I eat lots of good fats because that satisfies. I eat tons of non starchy veges with butter or olive oil or coconut oil...and I eat good sources of meat. I eat lots of omega 3 eggs and some nuts and seeds. I eat a sweet potato or some oatmeal now and then. My triglycerides are around 50 and my last HDL was 87. I don't care too much about my LDL since my ratio is really nice but if you have low triglycerides, that indicates your cholesterol particles are bigger which is healthier and safer.

Long term healthy eating is sustainable but I think fats need to be included or the human body will want to binge. Cleaning up your eating does not mean you will have to count calories or go hungry. I eat until I am full but always with slimming foods that won't cause too high insulin surges. No medicine can come close to feeding your body the right fuel. I'm preaching here....but you can do this.

[pittbulldad]

I hit all five of those .. well up until recently all five waist is down to 38 ..

The doc i was seeing put me on metaformin to increase my insulin sensitivity.. turned my urine bright orange and freaked me out so I quit taking it.. to be honest i felt like shit when i was on it