Does GH lead to diabetes to someone pre-disposed?

[BuffGuy]

I am NOT diabetic, thank God.

However, it DOES run in my family.

Would GH lead to diabetes (or increase the chances) to one pre-disposed to diabetes?

[einstein1905]

GH can increase insulin sensitivity, but I see no reason why it would hasten your progress towards type II diabetes. GH/IGF-1 both have the ability to make you more insulin sensitive while you're using them. You have no signs of it now? No hyperglycemia? Have you monitored BG over a period? If you're relatively young and lean, even if you're predisposed genetically, I wouldn't worry about it for now.

[BuffGuy]

Thanks for the reply.

Nah, I'm perfectly fit and healthy now...no signs of diabetes.

[longhornDr]

Secondary type II diabetes is a common side effect of high levels of GH, exogenous or endogenous, it is reversed when GH levels are returned to normal. GH causes insulin resistance (which is why insulin is often used in conjunction with GH).

In theory I suppose you could blow out your pancreas by staying on high doses of GH for extended periods of time....similiar to what happens to obese people predisposed to type II diabetes.

[einstein1905]

I've also read GH will cause varying degrees of insulin resistance, but I have measured my BG prior to starting GH with the same simple carb intake post w/o and again after I'd started GH in the same situation....My BG was much lower while I was using GH, while taking in the same amount of simple carbs at the same time point post w/o. This wasn't an isolated event either.

I agree that the majority of the literature says increased GH levels will likely cause increased insulin resistance, but it's not a given....clearly it had the opposite effect with me.

JB reported to have considerably lower BG after using IGF-1 post w/o compared to the same situations while not using IGF-1.

Since GH increases hepatic IGF-1, there is potential for insulin sensitivity to be skewed in either direction IMO.

[longhornDr]

I've also read GH will cause varying degrees of insulin resistance, but I have measured my BG prior to starting GH with the same simple carb intake post w/o and again after I'd started GH in the same situation....My BG was much lower while I was using GH, while taking in the same amount of simple carbs at the same time point post w/o. This wasn't an isolated event either.

I agree that the majority of the literature says increased GH levels will likely cause increased insulin resistance, but it's not a given....clearly it had the opposite effect with me.

JB reported to have considerably lower BG after using IGF-1 post w/o compared to the same situations while not using IGF-1.

Since GH increases hepatic IGF-1, there is potential for insulin sensitivity to be skewed in either direction IMO.

Were you taking anabolics at the same time?

Did you measure your BG throughout the day or just post-workout? After a workout the anabolic effects of IGF-1 could be overpowering the hyperglycemic actions of GH....or you could be having a rebound effect caused by hyper-secretion of insulin in repsonse to hyperglycemia from your post-workout carbs. Did you take several BG measurements after your PWO meal?

[einstein1905]

Were you taking anabolics at the same time?

Did you measure your BG throughout the day or just post-workout? After a workout the anabolic effects of IGF-1 could be overpowering the hyperglycemic actions of GH....or you could be having a rebound effect caused by hyper-secretion of insulin in repsonse to hyperglycemia from your post-workout carbs. Did you take several BG measurements after your PWO meal?

My measurements were 30 min after my shot (carbs had already been ingested as had pwo shake) and again roughly 2 hrs post injection. I've measured at these times both while using AAS and while not using, but still using GH. I didn't see any real trend that would tell me there was a difference between AAS use or not, but I know, in general, there should be.
I also measured BG in the AM at similar time points (insulin in the AM too for awhile).

I agree that the post w/o carbs could definitely be playing a role in boosting endogenous insulin too....the times at which I measured BG won't be able to confirm that, because I never measured post injection/precarb intake.

In theory, with IGF-1 LR3, with its long active life (relative to IGF-1), it could play a role in increasing insulin sensitivity while it's present. Taking GH in conjunction with LR3 would.....have what net effect (obviously dependent on dose) on insulin sensitivity?
Also, how exactly does GH mediate insulin insensitivity?

Thanks for your reply...I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

[flexshack]

My measurements were 30 min after my shot (carbs had already been ingested as had pwo shake) and again roughly 2 hrs post injection. I've measured at these times both while using AAS and while not using, but still using GH. I didn't see any real trend that would tell me there was a difference between AAS use or not, but I know, in general, there should be.
I also measured BG in the AM at similar time points (insulin in the AM too for awhile).

I agree that the post w/o carbs could definitely be playing a role in boosting endogenous insulin too....the times at which I measured BG won't be able to confirm that, because I never measured post injection/precarb intake.

In theory, with IGF-1 LR3, with its long active life (relative to IGF-1), it could play a role in increasing insulin sensitivity while it's present. Taking GH in conjunction with LR3 would.....have what net effect (obviously dependent on dose) on insulin sensitivity?
Also, how exactly does GH mediate insulin insensitivity?

Thanks for your reply...I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

are you saying that gh is reported to reduce insulin sensitivity, while igf-1 is supposed to do the opposite? that seems a little odd.

[BuffGuy]

You guys talking greek now.

But anyways, I talked to a doctor...and one who would actually tell me the truth..not one of those doctors who says everything is harmful and AS is the devil. He said that any raise in GH--be it exogenous or endogenous--can lead to diabetes in one pre-disposed. He says it is a common side-effect of GH.

[Ufa]

I had to edit this due to the fact that this thread is 2 years old..