Can insulin resistance get worse?

Question

I am insulin resistant. I found out about 3 months ago, and I was put on Metformin to regulate my insulin levels, and to help me lose weight. I went from 160 lbs to 151 lbs, which is great, because before Metformin, I wasn't losing any weight at all. Now, I am noticing a gradual weight gain again, and it's worrying me. I worked so hard to keep the weight off, and now it's coming back on. Could my insulin resistance be getting worse?

Answer 1

Metformin can cause some weight loss, but because your body is now using the calories you eat, and they are no longer being "flushed" from your body because of diabetes, you may notice some weight gain.  You need to watch your diet, and limit your carbs.  It does not mean your insulin resistance (which is actually type 2 diabetes).  You can't eat the way you used to, you really have to work with your diet.  Pills will help some, but ultimately, it is your diet that is going to have to change for the better for you to be able to control your disease..  Metformin  can help you lose some weight, but many also gain when they take it.  Make an appointment with a nutritionist, she can help you with your meals.  You can also get the South Beach diet that many dietitians and nutritionists suggest for their diabetic patients.  Just skip phase one and start with phase two.  You can lose weight quickly and safely on this diet and it will teach you about good and bad carbs.  A diabetic needs to know these things. Sign up for a few diabetic educational classes, you will learn a lot and can get good answers to your questions and learn to control your disease well.  You can possiblely be one of the type 2 diabetics that can control their disease by diet and exercise alone.  This could go on for many years.  But because diabetes is a progressive disease, in time most will have to take medications.  It is treated with oral meds, insulin, or sometimes, both.  There is no cure for what you have, only good control.  If you have trouble controlling your blood sugars, always tell your doctor.  It is very common to for the doctor to have to adjust or change your medications when you are first diagnosed...

Answer 2

Insulin Resistance is type 2 diabetes which is a progressive disease. It progresses no matter how hard we try to keep it regulated and level. We can eat just meat and simple salads and that won't help sometimes.

Yes, it gets worse sometimes no matter what we do to contain it. Some of us get a handful of antidiabetic tablets to take and then add some insulin to that. We can keep our carb grams to under 20 per meal and it still all packs back on our bods!!

I do hope you are not following the ADA advice on dietary matters and eating very low carb foods. ADA recommends just smaller servings of the regular food pyramid and that does nothing to help us to get in compliance with normal glucose numbers or to lose any weight.

I found out the hard way that ANY grains or other starchy foods in my food plan are very very detrimental to my health and well being.

Answer 3

Yes.  Just as insulin resistance can improve (usually with some combination of diet change, weight loss, exercise, and possibly medication), it can also get worse.

You may need to modify your diet/exercise regimen, or ask your doctor if it looks like a change in medication might be advisable.