PCOS and impaired glucose

[nellsbells]

HI, just wondering if anyone has PCOS with impaired glucose tolerance and NOT on medication. My gyn at the moment wants me to try and lose weight and then see. I'm trying hard but we all know how hard it is to lose weight, thought metformin might help with that too. I am able to ovulate with just clomid, but thought the metformin would be usefull not for ovulation but general health, any ideas?? We aren't TTC at the moment as i'm recovering from a loop excision but keen to get cracking again.

[melbel]

You seem to be in a vicious circle there with PCOS and impaired glucose tolerance and trying to lose weight as the PCOS and impaired GT are going to fight against most efforts at weight loss. My gut feeling as a type 1 diabetic myself is to say meds such as metformin may be helpful as they will help to take some of the strain off your pancreas and aid in the weightloss. I do not quite understand why your gyno says no but then he/she is a gyno not an endocrinologist. My advice for what it is worth is to try and get a referral from your gp to an endocrinologist as your gyno is really only qualified to make a decision about your PCOS The fact that you have impared GT means that you are what is called pre-diabetic and really need to get more specialised care than a gyno can provide. A good dietician who is up to the moment in their training an knows about low GI diets would also be of benefit.
My niece has PCOS could not shift her weight for years but between us I helped her to devise a low GI diet - she lost 10 kilos and is now 24 weeks pregnant after 18months of unsuccesfull TTC.

[paradise lost]

I would agree on the low GI diet. My sister has been morbidly obese for years and has PCOS, endo and Hashimoto's (an underactive thyroid). She started metformin and lost...2kg. In a low GI diet she managed to lose 14kg, though she's kind of fallen off the wagon again now.

Best of luck.

Bx

[bella55]

Hi,
I would have to agree with what has already been said and add:
I have PCOS and my glucose intol was only borderline but my gyn (who is a PCOS expert) commenced me on Metformin anyway. In combination with a low GI diet i lost a few Kg's straight away. I was only recently diagnosed but i have always struggled with my weight - as in i have to work extra extra hard to lose any.

My sister who has PCOS (and is overweight) is going to go and see my specialst as hers had never even mentioned Metformin?

Hope it helps
X
Bella55

[nellsbells]

Thank you for all your replys. Fortunately a girlfriend of mine is a dietician, so am trying the low GI thing at the moment. Have lost 3kgs but would like to lose another 7 at least. I'm not hugely overweight and are very active, but it's interesting to put all the pieces together after so many years of trying harder than others to lose weight or how easy it is to gain!!
I'm due to see my gyn for follow up from my surgery in 3wks, she tested me for the impaired glucose and thought not to start metformin yet, I might ask her again. If I'm all good to start TTC I actually see another gyn at a reproduction clinic so
I might quiz him on his thoughts and then maybe get referral for endocrinologist, not sure if there is any in my area though.
Thanks again ladies for your words of wisdom.
PCOS stinks!!!