Very high insulin levels

I got my blood test results back today and the reason i feel so awful lately is my insulin levels have doubled since the last time i had them checked..... after DD was born my levels were 23 and now they are up to 59 :o

I now have to take 500mg of metformin 3 times a day, in a months time if my levels haven't changed much i then will be put on 1000mg 3 times a day.

Can anyone give me hints and tips of how else i can help lower my levels and kick start weightloss? My doctor has told me to cut portion sizes in half, drink more water and exercise more. As it stands i don't eat alot of pastas, breads or rice. I could probably use with cutting out sugars though.

find a REALLY strict low GI diet and stick to it to the letter for a while - get yourself used to replacing essentially everything with a low GI alternative before you consider taking it on for yourself. there is so much that isn't great from a low GI perspective that would otherwise be deemed to be really healthy!

google GI tables and check everything that you eat on there. simple changes to things can help heaps. if you can't entirely give up something from your diet (for us, we eat dishes with rice quite a lot), change the variety you use to the lowest GI you can. it might cost a little more BUT, you're cutting down on portion sizes, so there is a balance there.

ummmmmmm, try and eat small portions (really small) frequently rather than larger meals. once you start eating during the day, your insulin goes up, and may not drop off in line with your sugars - high insulin and low sugars, as they drop, tend to cause that horrible nausea/tiredness/dizziness that is bordering on a hypo feeling. if you can try and stop the sugar highs and lows, and keep it stable through the day, you'll tend to feel better.

avoid fatty food as much as you can - with the extra metformin, you will be almost guaranteed to have an upset stomach - and fat will make it worse. be prepared for it to get worse before it gets better as your body adapts to the low GI eating habits and the impact of the metformin on your system


ETA your insulin levels being very high this time may have been an isolated thing, so don't stress on that one number - yes, it's high - but what you ate the night before could have impacted it. i have been told by an endocrinologist that a single reading shouldn't be looked at in isolation - if there is concern about your levels, there is perhaps a need for a full GTT with insulin levels so it can be observed in a more controlled situation. the increase your GP is talking about with 3000mg of metformin a day sounds VERY high and i'd be reluctant to do it based on fasting tests. i'd be asking for referral to someone like an endocrinologist to have more tests done, rather than doubling the dose like that

I would go and have a look at Diabetes Australia website they have some very good fact sheets that you could follow to eat a better diet. Really it is just a mixture of what your Dr has suggested eating the right foods, smaller sizes, excercise and drinking water.

BG has also given you some great advice :D

Hon that is a high level, are you sure the testing was correct? different labs have different measurement testings, the reason why I say this is my Ob was confused about my results and one said I had it and the other said I didnt, they read the readings wrong as it was from a different lab. If it is correct, BG has some great suggestions! I used to take metformin 3 times a day also. I found that cutting out all high GI foods and eating mainly low GI with a few medium GI mixed in help start to get things moving, The lower the GI food the less symptoms you will get as side effects from the metformin also, I found if I ate high GI when taking metformin I spent all day attached to the bathroom. Also walking 30mins each day will help too if you can do it? Can your GP give you a referal to a bulk billed dietician that can make a low GI diet for you? I saw one and it was an excellent guide. It was Low GI and also portion side control.

It all sounds alittle wrong to me LMS. That is a massive dose considering the limited tests and interventions u have had.
Your doctor really should have referred you to a diabetic educator to manage your situation as GPs arnt specialists in this area.
If I was you I would contact the local hospital and asked to be put in contact with a diabetes educator.


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Exercise is the most effective way to reduce insulin levels. Try doing 3 (or more) brisk 10-15 min walk/run a day as opposed to one long stretch. this isn't always possible, so ANY exercise is good. It makes your cells more receptive to the insulin so it gets used up quicker. Even a quick 2-5 min with a skipping rope before and after each meal helps.
Start by reducing carbs (bread, pasta, rice, noodles) and increasing your proteins. Try to have protein at each meal (egg, meat, fish, poultry, beans, legumes, tofu, nuts - especially raw almonds).
Replace carbs with low GI options, (basmati rice, wholegrain bread, quinoa instead of rice - it's very high in protein and vit b which helps digest carbs)
Increase salad with meals. try to replace part of the carbs with salad until you are eating almost nil refined carbs ( go slow so your body adjusts).
Increase fibre. Add Benefibre to soft food, drinks (coffee,tea, juice). Have metamucil/fybogel with two glasses of water 3 times a day before each meal. This will reduce the amount you eat as well as slow the absorption of sugar in your diet.
Eat a handful of raw almonds for morning and afternoon tea. This will keep you fuller and help with sugar metabolism as well as cholesterol levels ( which will eventually rise due to increased insulin).
Eat salads with tuna/chicken/cheese instead of sandwiches for lunch.
Increase your water intake.
Read up on low GI diet so you know which foods are better options for you. Think about everything before you put it in your mouth. Is it low GI? Is it good for me? Do I need to eat anymore or am I full?
Don't stress too much stress will increase your insulin levels! Try meditation/yoga/ long warm baths - whatever it takes to relax.
And yes - don't worry about the numbers from the lab - 500mg 3 times a day of metformin is sure to help if you are disciplined with your diet and exercise.
Good luck hun. You can beat it. I did.