Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Hi, -- it helps control insulin resistance... which can be associated with thyroid disease, some say. Below is the article (our) posted a few weeks ago.. it's from Shomon's site. I have had Diabetic-like symptoms including many of the symptoms below from the start of my thyroid disease but normal blood sugar levels, which is why this interests me. -- Insulin Resistance: A Key to Weight Loss Thyroid Disease Blog « Weight Loss: Eat To Live - Not Live To Eat | Main | 2003 Thyroid Cheers and Jeers -- From Shomon » January 11, 2004 Insulin Resistance: A Key to Weight Loss Here's a great reader letter! -- " I've written to you numerous times before, but most recently to request that you write something about insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and diabetes, and the connection between these disorders and hypothyroidism. So I was thrilled to read the " Insulin Resistance " segment of your recent article entitled Losing Weight with Hypothyroidism. It was very well-written and I'm sure easy to understand by those that are unfamiliar with insulin resistance. I have struggled with Hypothyroidism for 19 years! Without boring you with details, 2 years ago I adopted a low-carb diet and exercised religiously to lose 40 lbs, only to have 15 of them come back recently with no explaination. The addition of a drug called Glucophage XL (extended release metformin) has helped tremendously by sensitizing my cells to my own insulin, reducing the amount of glucose my intestines absorb, and turning down my liver's glucose production. Lower blood sugar means lower insulin, which means my body stores less fat, and is now burning my fat stores for fuel! The 15 lbs are gone! AND....I have cut my dose of Armour Thyroid in half! Yes, I am still hypothyroid, but it was the insulin resistance that was causing most of my symptoms. The weight problem, huge appetite, fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, bleeding gums, numb feet, yeast infections, low basal body temperature, easy bruising and slow wound healing have all been resolved over the past 4 months. AND....my blood pressure has fallen to within ideal normal ranges, as have my cholesterol levels! I hope you continue to educate Thyroid patients and to encourage them to become active partners in their own medical care. They need to look beyond the thyroid to rule out another common cause of these symptoms. They should demand a 4 or 5-hour oral glucose tolerance test that also measures insulin levels (even if their fasting blood sugar is normal) and settle for nothing less than the 2-hour test. I know if I hadn't made that demand, I'd still be complaining to my doctor about my thyroid and he'd still be telling me I was fine! > > I've prioritized the changes I'm going to ask to be made next > > endo. appointment: try Glucophage, try Armour, try other types of > > thyroid hormone. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Thanks for letting me know, . I remember that although I have many of the same symptoms, I stopped reading when I got to " my blood sugar is lower. " My blood sugar feels like it's already too low. Let us know if it helps! > > > I've prioritized the changes I'm going to ask to be made next > > > endo. appointment: try Glucophage, try Armour, try other types > of > > > thyroid hormone. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Hi and Sheila -- I haven't made a decision to start on Glucophage, it's just something I want to discuss with my endo. Don't see her for a month, unfortunately! No, I haven't been diagnosed with insulin resistance, it's just something I want to ask about. Seems there has been something a little strange from the start of my thyroid diagnosis with the sudden appearance of yeast infections, sensitivity to sugar and some of these hypoglycemic like reactions, plus the fatigue. , I feel like my blood sugar is 'low' a lot of the time too.. but I'm kind of assuming if you can feel that, that means you've just come down from a high, or are used to feeling " high " . I don't know, just a guess. On the other hand, people with insulin resistance are supposed to do well on low carbs, which I most certainly do not. At least, I could not survive on Atkins. Anyway, a friend's friend has been plagued with chronic yeast infections and started a very low dose of Glucophage and it seems to have helped her. Here's more info. on insulin resistance and the side effects of Glucophage on Dr. Weil's site: http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.html-command=TodayQ A-questionId=94119 He says the side effects are often temporary and the more severe ones are only a risk if you have kidney/liver disease or heart failure. > i'm interested in your decision to start on Glucophage. When I saw the nurse practitioner at my endo's office last time, that was one of the suggestions she made to me. I haven't made a decision at this time. Since she didn't explain much of anything to me about glucophage, except that it would reduce the chances of me becoming diabetic, I am not prepared to make a decision about it. > > I also haven't had time to research the drug. Before I can decide, I'm gonna have to do that. > > A medical professional/friend of mine has problems sugar...been diagnosed with insulin resistance. She said her dr. recommended glucophage but she's not going to take it because of the side effects. I have no idea what the side effects are...still need to learn more about it. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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