Resolving Insulin Resistance and Reducing Cancer Risk

Tethys41

Insulin resistance is a precursor to type II diabetes. It is a result of a diet high in sugars and carbohydrates. Essentially, the cells become resistant to the insulin that carries glucose into them. The cells are protecting themselves from too much glucose. In response to the elevated glucose in the blood - since the glucose can't get into the cells - the pancreas releases additional insulin. Insulin is a growth hormone and stimulates cancer growth.

http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/Ovarian-Cancer-Resources.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12488297
http://www.pre-diabetes.com/prediabetes/signs-symptoms-insulin-resistance.h tml

The symptoms of insulin resistance will not send you running to the doctor, and you may have it for years without knowing. If, however, you are overweight or have belly fat, there's a good chance you have it. You can find out through a blood test called a glucose tolerance test which involves a fasting blood sample, and 4 subsequent blood samples after the patient drinks a sugary drink, over the next three hours.

The good news is that both insulin resistance and type II diabetes can be resolved through a low carbohydrate diet. But, I've learned there is more to it than that. I've been avoiding sugars and carbs for months now, but still have the belly fat. I consulted a nurse practitioner and a nutritionist to help me in my efforts.

From the nutritionist, I learned that avoiding sugar means limiting my daily intake to less than 20 grams. My morning half cup of berries just about meets 1/3 of that limit. From both health care professionals, I learned that efforts to resolve insulin resistance will be unsuccessful if your blood oxygen saturation falls at night. My nurse practitioner ordered a nocternal pulse oximmetry test, which was free. I wore a pulse oximmeter on my finger while I slept for one night. The results were surprising. My blood oxygen falls regularly throughout the night and is even low right when I lie down to go to sleep. Now I have a machine that extracts oxygen from the air in my bedroom and delivers it to me through a canula, which I wear at night. No oxygen bottles are involved. It's a bit uncomfortable sleeping with the canula, but I want to resolve the insulin resistance and the cancer risks related to it. Insurance covers all the costs for the machine except for $17/month, which I pay.

whiterose

Lots of good information and
Lots of good information and food for thought, as usual Tethys.....Thank you and keep posting your info. here. It spurs my own research on.....

Twins Ga-Ga

Your Info ---
Wow!! All this info was great. I am diabetic (wi ovarian cancer) and my daughter has the insulin resistance problem. I'm going to pass this info on to her and give some serious thought to taking better care of myself. Thanks for posting.
Linda

Radioactive34

I can so relate to this.
I can so relate to this. With the PCOS, I was on Glucophage/Metformin. I still am. Though doctors are debating the need of it. I tell them PCOS was a symptom of an endorcrine disorder, not the total problem. That seems to let them keep me on metformin even though I am not diabetic.

I am cutting my carb intake as much as possible. At least keeping in the healthier carbs. There are as many health food places here, as there are fast food places. You literally have the choice to go to McDonalds, or cross the street and eat at a healthy fast food place. More often than not the healthier place has cheaper food prices.

I tried the sleep apnea machine. I could not change positions and it hurt too much to stay in one place at night. I was miserable.

The belly fat is so hard to get rid off. I am slimming down from top to middle and bottom to middle. The belly is highly resistant. I would consider some sort of lipo or surgery to get rid of it.

Prior to my diagnosis and up unto the week of surgery, I was working out everyday. On the weekends, I would hike 2 hours on both days. Yet, the belly fat would not go down.

The battle continues....

carolenk

Radioactive34 said:

I can so relate to this.
I can so relate to this. With the PCOS, I was on Glucophage/Metformin. I still am. Though doctors are debating the need of it. I tell them PCOS was a symptom of an endorcrine disorder, not the total problem. That seems to let them keep me on metformin even though I am not diabetic.

I am cutting my carb intake as much as possible. At least keeping in the healthier carbs. There are as many health food places here, as there are fast food places. You literally have the choice to go to McDonalds, or cross the street and eat at a healthy fast food place. More often than not the healthier place has cheaper food prices.

I tried the sleep apnea machine. I could not change positions and it hurt too much to stay in one place at night. I was miserable.

The belly fat is so hard to get rid off. I am slimming down from top to middle and bottom to middle. The belly is highly resistant. I would consider some sort of lipo or surgery to get rid of it.

Prior to my diagnosis and up unto the week of surgery, I was working out everyday. On the weekends, I would hike 2 hours on both days. Yet, the belly fat would not go down.

The battle continues....

So are you saying that you
So are you saying that you have sleep apnea, Tethys? There's a whole lot of that going on undiagnosed.

There is another option for some people with sleep apnea. Instead of using a CPAP machine, Radioactive, one might use a custom made dental appliance that is only worn at bedtime. I've seen TV commercials for the dental appliance.

Tethys41

carolenk said:

So are you saying that you
So are you saying that you have sleep apnea, Tethys? There's a whole lot of that going on undiagnosed.

There is another option for some people with sleep apnea. Instead of using a CPAP machine, Radioactive, one might use a custom made dental appliance that is only worn at bedtime. I've seen TV commercials for the dental appliance.

Sleep Apnea
Carolyn,
I have yet to find out if sleep apnea is the culprit. I'm going to have the nocternal pulse oximmetry test done again next week, with the oxygen, to see if that has resolved the issue. If it has not, then I will do a sleep study to see if sleep apnea is the culprit. It is possible that the oxygen alone will do it for me. I live at altitude, so we don't have as much oxygen up here.

carolenk

Tethys41 said:

Sleep Apnea
Carolyn,
I have yet to find out if sleep apnea is the culprit. I'm going to have the nocternal pulse oximmetry test done again next week, with the oxygen, to see if that has resolved the issue. If it has not, then I will do a sleep study to see if sleep apnea is the culprit. It is possible that the oxygen alone will do it for me. I live at altitude, so we don't have as much oxygen up here.

Are you anemic post-chemo?
Are you anemic post-chemo? That might explain your situation.

Tethys41

carolenk said:

Are you anemic post-chemo?
Are you anemic post-chemo? That might explain your situation.

Nope
Not anemic
So, at least I have that going for me.

Radioactive34

carolenk said:

So are you saying that you
So are you saying that you have sleep apnea, Tethys? There's a whole lot of that going on undiagnosed.

There is another option for some people with sleep apnea. Instead of using a CPAP machine, Radioactive, one might use a custom made dental appliance that is only worn at bedtime. I've seen TV commercials for the dental appliance.

I have diagnosed sleep
I have diagnosed sleep apnea. I had it prior to the cancer. I am wearing a dental appliance at night. The doctors have talked surgery for my jaw. My bottom jaw is recessed so they figure if they enlarge it, my tongue will have more room to rest. Also they seem to think the tonsils are slightly too big. That would be another surgery.

Money is way too tight to fix them. Here in Denmark, only the medical portion is covered for any dental you are on your own.

My hubby and I were watching a travel show on Bangkok. The medical tourist portion caught our attention. The prices are so low the entire trip would be cheaper than having the procedure in the US or here. Travel is not possible this year, but maybe next year we will begin addressing issues.

That aside the insulin thing seems to be a biggie. Everything seems to be tied to being "obese." I put it in qoutations because I had the issues even when I have been skinny as a bean pole. I gained a few pounds and "Well, there is the cause of your problems, your fat." Really...I had them prior?!?!?

Tethys41

Radioactive34 said:

I have diagnosed sleep
I have diagnosed sleep apnea. I had it prior to the cancer. I am wearing a dental appliance at night. The doctors have talked surgery for my jaw. My bottom jaw is recessed so they figure if they enlarge it, my tongue will have more room to rest. Also they seem to think the tonsils are slightly too big. That would be another surgery.

Money is way too tight to fix them. Here in Denmark, only the medical portion is covered for any dental you are on your own.

My hubby and I were watching a travel show on Bangkok. The medical tourist portion caught our attention. The prices are so low the entire trip would be cheaper than having the procedure in the US or here. Travel is not possible this year, but maybe next year we will begin addressing issues.

That aside the insulin thing seems to be a biggie. Everything seems to be tied to being "obese." I put it in qoutations because I had the issues even when I have been skinny as a bean pole. I gained a few pounds and "Well, there is the cause of your problems, your fat." Really...I had them prior?!?!?

Yes Radioactive,
I don't know how much of it is weight. I do know that I was alway underweight. Over the last 7 years, I've climbed up well into the normal range of weight for my height. The belly fat started before my diagnosis. So, I definitely feel there is a connection, at least for me, between insulin resistance and cancer risk.