Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Insulin Resistance: What's the test?

Question:

Thanks so much to everyone that responded.  

and Thank *you* for asking the same thing I needed to know.  ,,  ,—, (_,/ _/   _/__/ ,,/_/,,/_/,,,

Response:

Thanks so much to everyone that responded.  I’ve been doing more reading and am positive that I need to pursue this.  I’ll start with my current doctor but if I don’t get his support in getting these tests done I will seek a second opinion with an RE.  Thanks so much. SueB

Response:

I don’t have PCOS, based on my regular periods, lack of very many symptoms (I am overweight, have skin tags and a few hairs under my chin, but not really hirsutism), LH/FSH ratio, etc.  However, I am wondering too if I am insulin resistant.  I have a problem with egg quality and I’ve heard of many overweight women going on metformin after insulin resistance was diagnosed and getting pregnant (I’ve heard metformin and getting the insulin resistance under control can improve egg quality). I was tested yesterday for fasting glucose and something called glyco-something, maybe what Kay called it.  I’m wondering if I am insulin resistant and don’t have PCO.  Knowing if you are can help you by hopefully preventing adult-onset diabetes in the future before it starts. — Vikki M.

Response:

Some RE’s use glucose tolerance tests and C-peptide.

Just wanted to expand on the C-peptide test; Mark Perloe  http://www.ivf.com/ ) relies on it because it can detect subtle cases that elude other tests. Beth PCOS, not IR, but taking metformin anyhow

Response:

I don’t have PCOS, based on my regular periods, lack of very many symptoms (I am overweight, have skin tags and a few hairs under my chin, but not really hirsutism), LH/FSH ratio, etc.

I was overweight, had only a few hairs under my chin.  I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic, but that can be for low insulin as well as insulin resistance.  My insulin levels were *normal*.  LH/FSH ratio was fine. No cysts seen on ultrasounds.  Nonetheless, I was a *terrible* responder to both Clomid and injectibles.  The RE shrugged and said it was probably because of my age, despite all good tests, passing the Clomid challenge, good E2 levels, etc.  Finally was put on Metformin by my endocrinologist, as my blood sugars were edging higher despite my strict program of diet and exercise.  "Miraculously", after only 30 days treatment, the same level of follistim that had given me one follicle, produced 10 follicles, all secreting E2 like mad (i.e., they weren’t cysts or empty).  And I ended up hyperstimulating (which is typical of PCOS) and having to spend 2 weeks on bed rest.  My RE’s comment, "Gosh, maybe you *did* have PCOS, since your body had a classic PCOS response to metformin and the stims . . . "   In any event, it was a happy ending–I’m now 23 weeks pregnant from that cycle.  (I continued Metformin for about a month after the ++ tests, as metformin has been shown to decrease the miscarriage rate in women with PCOS, too.) Susan H.

Response:

OK,  I’ve been reading posts from so many about this subject, but I guess I never thought it applied to me, so I skimmed over them quite a bit.  Now I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I should pay more attention. What type of tests are done to determine if you have insulin resistance. What type of symptoms are associated with it?  I know most people seem to have PCOS and insulin resistance, but I’m not sure PCOS is a factor for me. I have *some* symptoms I suppose, but my ovaries look normal.  I just don’t ovulate very regularly, didn’t respond to clomid and several years ago started having a problem with my weight, where I never had a problem.  I find that now I have a very difficult time losing any weight.  I eat right, exercise but never seem to get much off.  I recently found out that several close family members have PCOS and am now wondering if I should give more thought to it.  I just don’t want to jump the gun. Any help would be appreciated.  I know there’s some info on the web, so any links to websites would be great too. Thanks! SueB

Response:

The test that I took for insulin resistance is called fasting insulin..They should also do a fasting glucose test on you also. Then I think (not for sure) it is the ratio between the two.  I have PCOS and I am not insulin resistant and my ovarys look normal also. Polycystic ovaries are just a symptom, you don’t have to have them…Not all women have the same symptoms. The scary thing about it is there is so few docs IMO that don’t know much about it or they just overlook your symptoms..In my case, I have had PCOS since the beginning of puberty (no AF) which was when I was 14. I am now 30 and I was just diagnosed a year and a half ago…Some of my family members are being tested now because they have the same symptoms also… Most of my symptoms did not start until my early twenties, that was acne and weight gain (and I eat hardly anything at all) and IF, now I have all of the symptoms except the ovaries and the insulin resistance.. Their is also a NG called alt.support.pco.  ALOT of very knowledgeable women…some of them have websites of thier own that have great resource links on them…Hope this helped a little bit.. Big Hugs, Tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK,  I’ve been reading posts from so many about this subject, but I guess I never thought it applied to me, so I skimmed over them quite a bit.  Now I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I should pay more attention. What type of tests are done to determine if you have insulin resistance. What type of symptoms are associated with it?  I know most people seem to have PCOS and insulin resistance, but I’m not sure PCOS is a factor for me. I have *some* symptoms I suppose, but my ovaries look normal.  I just don’t ovulate very regularly, didn’t respond to clomid and several years ago started having a problem with my weight, where I never had a problem.  I find that now I have a very difficult time losing any weight.  I eat right, exercise but never seem to get much off.  I recently found out that several close family members have PCOS and am now wondering if I should give more thought to it.  I just don’t want to jump the gun. Any help would be appreciated.  I know there’s some info on the web, so any links to websites would be great too. Thanks! SueB

Response:

Hi Sue:) I’ve been reading about that too. I’m (finally!) going to see a RE and dying too know if: I’ll be dx as PCOS and if so if: I’m a metformin candidate. I hope you’ll find some info here: http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos4.html  ,,  ,—, (_,/ _/   _/__/ ,,/_/,,/_/,,,

Response:

What type of tests are done to determine if you have insulin resistance.

For me, the glucose test was normal but my fasting insulin was up anyhow, that’s how my doctor apparently knew that I was insulin resistant. What type of symptoms are associated with it?

I was always exhausted.  I had a hard time digesting food, it would just hang around in my stomach literally for hours.  Even when I exercised I didn’t build any muscle.  And the most obvious symptom, I had a tendency to have ‘fuzzy’ periods when I couldn’t concentrate and/or couldn’t get my eyes to focus.  These fuzzy symptoms would usually go away when I drank something like orange juice or a sugary soda pop. I know most people seem to have PCOS and insulin resistance, but I’m not sure PCOS is a factor for me.

My first doctor seemed to believe that I didn’t have PCOS, but that might have simply been because I had no cysts on my ovaries.  I might have to check further with this new doctor. Teri

Response:

<<What type of tests are done to determine if you have insulin resistance. My RE uses fasting glucose and fasting insulin, and looks at the ratio.  She also looks at glycosolated hemoglobin. Some RE’s use glucose tolerance tests and C-peptide. -kay (PCOS and *not* insulin resistant)

Response:

Sue, One of the first tests my RE ran last march was a glucose tolerance test. I have very regular cycles, ovulate with no problem, no acne and my ovaries are normal. When they did the test on me my glucose and insulin were both within the normal range but I had a ratio of 3.9 and they like to see a ratio of 4 or above. My RE put me on 1500 mg of metrofmin and I had diahrea for about two weeks and anytime I ate ice cream. I lost about 15 pounds with no effort at all but the nausea and diarhea was no picnic. I don’t know if it was the met, the clomid or the combo, but I am now 9 weeks pregnant. It is certainly something to check into because insulin can really mess around with your hormones. Good luck and feel free to email me with any further questions. Celia

Response:

Filed under: Polycystic Ovaries

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