PCOS and normal sugar levels

[Mojo]

Hi there! A question about weight.....

I have had MANY blood tests done over the years including 2 fasting blood tests. The main result has been that my Progesterone is very low and Testosterone slightly high. My sugar is always spot on. You might say that because my sugar levels are good that I probably do not have PCOS, but I have EVERY OTHER SYMPTOM of PCOS - ovarian cysts, acne, irregular to non-existent periods, anxiety, facial hair, etc. Another exception is that I am only about 15 lbs over weight. My question is that since my weight is not a huge issue and my sugar is fine, will the insulite program cause me to gain weight? I was put on Metformin once and I gained 6 pounds in 1 week. Thanks!

Mojo

[drheather]

Hi there! A question about weight.....

I have had MANY blood tests done over the years including 2 fasting blood tests. The main result has been that my Progesterone is very low and Testosterone slightly high. My sugar is always spot on. You might say that because my sugar levels are good that I probably do not have PCOS, but I have EVERY OTHER SYMPTOM of PCOS - ovarian cysts, acne, irregular to non-existent periods, anxiety, facial hair, etc. Another exception is that I am only about 15 lbs over weight. My question is that since my weight is not a huge issue and my sugar is fine, will the insulite program cause me to gain weight? I was put on Metformin once and I gained 6 pounds in 1 week. Thanks!

Mojo

Hello Mojo,

Thank you for writing in.

There are women that have normal glucose levels with PCOS. Some will not show an elevation. The test that can provide further information to insulin resistance is a fasting insulin test. This is not often done but worth getting your doctor to do. However, with that being said, some will have a normal fasting insulin as well. Ideally, you want this to be below 10. In addition some women will not have tests that will show insulin resistance but they are more sensitive to the insulin that they produce.

PCOS is a complicated syndrome and not easy to diagnose. Also another important note, as many as 50% of women with PCOS are not obese or even overweight.

I would not expect the Insulite System to cause you to gain weight. We have some women that have gained a few pounds as they adjusted to the System, were making changes and with initial changes in hormones, but we often get them back on track as they progress.

It certainly is suspicious of PCOS and as long as other conditions have been evaluated for and ruled out, PCOS is likely. Some that should be evaluated for include Cushing's (cortisol), thyroid issues (thyroid panel including antibodies.

I hope that this helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.