Question:
Met with the endocrinologist, found I am insulin resistant and am feeling stressed

and sad about this news. Has anyone else encountered the same or similar problem and felt overwhelmed by the news? How did you handle it?    — Phoenix (posted on August 2, 2004)

August 2, 2004
Hey Dawn, Oh yeah, been there done that. It was the worst possible news (okay - given the scope of all of the horrible things in the world, not really - but it did totally suck!). BUT, that was one of the reasons that I chose to have the surgery that I did (BPD/DS) because it is being used to cure diabetes. My surgeon and a handful of others are even doing one portion of the surgery on non-MO individuals, and it has a 99% cure rate. It's totally cool! The good news is that there is hope. Do your research, be proactive for yourself, and be sure you choose the right surgery for you. Use this as a catalyst to take charge. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

August 2, 2004
I was diagnosed over a year ago. My ins. wouldn't pay for the medication I needed. Now that I have had wls I will hopefully not have to worry about the ill effects it can have on ones health.
   — bubbleboo K.

August 2, 2004
I feel your pain! I also had the Lap RNY on 3-12-04 in the hopes of getting off of the insulin....no such luck! I am down to nearly 150 lbs and I still am on 4 shots a day and my doctor, quite puzzled, feels I will always need the insulin. I am the first she has seen who did not get dramatically better after the surgery. I am on LESS medicine,,,I was on 120 units of Humulog 75/25 daily prior to surgery...now I am on 25 units of Lantus at bedtime and a sliding scale of Humulog starting at 3 units three times a day. I have days that I am sad about this but I know I am getting healthier...my A1C three month test for the past 12 years has always hovered between 11 and 12 and now it is slowly coming down..it was 9.6 which was a milestone for me. I only need to loose another 24 lbs and I will be at goal. I know that you are sad and depressed about the news but at least we live in a century where there is good medicine and great doctors. --Adele
   — Adele R.

August 2, 2004
I'm of the belief that most of us are insulin resistant, but undiagnosed as such. It shows up in hypoglycemia before and after surgery, as well as the pre-op diabetes. There are a whole set of things that go with it. And obesity is guaranteed. We cannot, never could, never will be able to process carbs like normies. Soooooooo, we work around it. Life didn't end, it just changed AND it put you back in the driver's seat. You can let go of that "weak character" thinking and treat it like the physical disease it is.
   — vitalady

August 2, 2004
I think many, many of us here are insulin resistant. This is what has caused us to be obese due to the blood sugar spikes and crashes. It causes those insatiable cravings for carbs. The good news is that while you'll probably always be sensitive to carbs, even with WLS, at least you'll be able to keep your weight under control. Keep away from anything refined (white sugar, white flour) and learn all you can about controling your blood sugar. IMO, the vast quantities of refined foods we consume as a society is what has led to this condition being so common.
   — mom2jtx3

August 3, 2004
I don't have an answer for you as I'm going thru the same thing. Had surgery 4 1/2 months ago and my blood sugar is either 300 or 30! Any little bit of carbs makes it sky rocket, its very depressing and I'm hoping my endocronologist can help next month. I started keeping a food journal to see if I can "fix" this, but doesn't look good. Being Type 1 diabetic, preop I was taking 125 units/day, up to 3 wks ago I only needed 25-35 units/day, now its climbing up towards 50 and 60 units! I don't understand this and getting really frustrated! Looking forward to hearing some more responses of post-ops that are going thru this. 3/15/04 275/209/150
   — SJWendy

August 3, 2004
Dawn...have you been checked to see if you have PCOS(poly cystic ovaries) It causes obesity, irregular periods, abnormal hair growth and insulin resistence. Being insulin resistent isn't the end of the world-but, it can lead to Type 2 Diabetes later on in life. If you didn't get any info on what foods to avoid or eat-I would ask your endrocinologist again OR go to a Diabetic center. They should have info on what your diet should consist of. I have PCOS-but I'm hypoglycemic not insulin resistant. Did you take a glucose or insulin test where you have to drink some liquid and wait a few hours for another blood test? This is really the only test that can show what your true glucose/insulin levels are.
   — Heather D.

August 4, 2004
Dawn, don't let this get you down! I was insulin resistant and on Glucophage XL 2000mg per day until a few days before surgery. It has been 19 months since surgery and I haven't had to take the Glucophage again. My fasting insulin level was so normal, my PCP missed it until I pointed it out to him! (By the way, with insulin resistance, your HbA1c and blood sugars can be normal.)
   — koogy

August 7, 2004
Dawn, I also know what you are going thru, been there, still there lol. I am type 2 for 4 years, on oral meds Glucophage 500 and Glucatrol 10 for 4 yrs and the past year insulin lantus now up to 120u per day. I am pre op right now, just have 1 more test b4 I can schedule my date, hopefully mid September. My endo has seen a great success with completely coming off of meds after surgery. I have gained 120 lbs in the past 14 mos since starting the insulin, averaging 10-15 lbs per month. I feel like I am gonna explode some days. My sugars are still in the mid 200's. Everyone reacts differently. Another friend is also resistant,takes 1 oral med,and is actually losing weight on her own since her levels are stabile. I am actually a little worried myself now since reading here that others are still on meds post op, my surgeon and endo are so confidant that I wont be, that they practically guaranteed me, I am not stupid, I know nothing is a guar. Whatever the outcome, I know I will be much healthier at a lower weight with diabetes (if its not "cured") that at the weight I am now with it. Maybe atleast then it will be under control ~ Stacy
   — PoolGirl35 ~.

August 8, 2004
If you are planning to go ahead with WLS then I wouldn't worry about it at all. Once the weight is off things will change drastically. I'm sure I was also inslin resistant but I would not let them go the diabetes drug route to deal with my severe PCOS etc. It's not like it was going to solve my 200+ extra lbs. I had managed to lose that much on my own 10 years ago but could not keep it off, so it's not like it prevented me from losing. I lost 228 lbs in 12-3/4 months after WLS and since the total has gone to 252 lbs, which includes the weight lost from two extensive plastic surgeries. So my SMO and very severely PCOS body had no trouble losing weight. I do struggle to maintain my weight now but not because of insulin resistance. Because of not eating like I should. But fortunately the tool is truly always there if I chose to use it. So the most I've gone up is 8 lbs and then I am able to get it back off with minimal effort. So don't sweat this diagnosis. Just move forward with your WLS and know that life will be so much better!
   — zoedogcbr

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