Does anyone get a boost in energy and mood from dark chocolate? Or does dark chocolate make you worse?
I get a boost in energy and mood from dark chocolate and it’s quite pronounced. I know some may say it’s to do with magnesium, but I take 400mg of Natural Calm powder every evening, which is much more magnesium than would be in dark chocolate, and don’t get any effects like that.
An inner tenseness, almost an internal buzzing sensation - and it’s like you’re stressed but can’t get stressed? Anyone else experience anything like this?
Anyone take rhodiola and find it helpful? Does it raise or lower cortisol? Or should it only be taken if you know you have high (or low) cortisol? I notice a lot of adrenal support formulas also contain rhodiola among other things.
Does anyone have Type 1 or 1.5 and also PCOS?
These conditions are seemingly contradictory. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and Type 2. But Type 1/1.5 means impaired pancreatic function and (eventually, if not already) needing insulin.
Does anyone have Type 1/1.5 but also deal with PCOS and perhaps insulin resistance? How do you manage both without making one or the other worse?
34F. Officially diagnosed celiac for 5 years. There is a correlation between celiac disease and autoimmune diabetes, right?
Last October I got Covid and shortly after my blood sugar started spiking higher than usual and doing strange things, especially considering I eat a low carb diet (in addition to strict gf of course) and take blood sugar/insulin-sensitizing supplements like berberine, chromium, and inositol for PCOS.
My blood sugar then started rising dramatically and went from a prediabetic A1c to diabetic in less than 6 weeks.
I just got the results back from antibody testing and my GAD65 antibody was positive… so I guess this means Type 1.5 (or Type 1)?! We don’t know if this was triggered by Covid, or if it would’ve happened anyway, and/or due to the correlation with celiac…
I’ve also had high thyroid antibodies in the past…does this mean I have the autoimmune trifecta?! 😩
34F. Just an update to a previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/s/GjHBP6pMDK
After getting COVID last October, my blood sugar started spiking and doing weird things, and then was suddenly and rapidly rising despite being on a very low carb diet, and taking berberine, inositol, and chromium for PCOS. Just last year my A1c was 5.1%. March of this year, fasting was 8.2 and A1c was 6.1. April - fasting 10.4, A1c 6.6. Then June - fasting of 14.7
Well, GAD65 antibody testing results are in and it’s positive: 85 (reference range <5)
So it’s looking like Type 1.5 (or just Type 1?)… We don’t know if it was triggered by Covid - the timing does seem rather suspicious. There’s also a correlation between autoimmune diabetes and celiac disease (which I have, and is also autoimmune). Not sure how I feel.
What are considered optimal fasting insulin levels? What kind of fasting insulin levels do you get on a keto or low carb diet? Has anyone had their fasting insulin tested while on keto?
Just wondering about this. The normal range for fasting insulin on bloodwork is so broad but what is actually optimal?
I’m confused about my fasting insulin because it seems to indicate both insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function?
My fasting insulin was 53 pmol/L (range: 20-180) and my fasting glucose was 10.7 mmol/L (yes I know this is diabetic - numbers started rising dramatically after having Covid - this was my previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PCOS/s/X2cTBwOejr)
When I put these into a HOMA-IR calculator, it suggests I am insulin resistant. But then these numbers, along with my C-peptide, also seem to indicate impaired beta cell function. Because with a fasting glucose like 10.7, my insulin should be really high - my pancreas should be dumping out a bunch of insulin to try to bring it down, but that’s not the case.
I’m confused. Am I correct about the HOMA-IR? How can both be the case?
I’ve started on 10 units of long acting Basaglar insulin in the morning. It’s been 4 days now. My fasting blood glucose had been averaging around 12-14 mmol/L. Now the last 2 days fasting has been 9.8.
I’ve been feeling dizzy and weird in the head and nauseous, and it feels like each time I eat symptoms flare up again. Is this my body adjusting to lower numbers? How did others feel when adjusting?
I don’t yet know what type and we’re awaiting results from further testing. This was my previous post - https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/s/RnMaBlcW67
I’m on a very low carb diet and have been for years. I also take berberine, inositol, and chromium. My A1c is always in the 5.1-5.4% range. I’m 5 ft 8 and 145 pounds so not overweight at all.
I got Covid last fall and after my blood sugar started going up and up.
I went to my family doctor and my fasting glucose was 8.2 mmol/L and my A1c was 6.1% (prediabetic). I was referred to an endocrinologist and less than 6 weeks later, my fasting glucose was 10.6 and my A1c was 6.6% (diabetic). Now barely a month after that, my fasting glucose is averaging 12-14 (!!).
I cut what few carbs I was having (sometimes I would have a slice or two of apple with lunch) - nothing. Added an alpha lipoic acid, then another - nothing. My blood glucose continues to rise and nothing I do, or have been doing (like berberine), seems to touch it.
I am seeing an endocrinologist and he is doing some additional testing to see what type/if there are antibodies etc.
I’m just wondering if anyone else suddenly developed diabetes after having Covid (and what type). This is very scary and it seems like my blood sugar got all messed up after having Covid and is just rising quickly and dramatically.
Has anyone had an AM cortisol blood test done? If so, did it show anything useful? From what I understand, unless you have Addison’s (autoimmune adrenal insufficiency) or Cushing’s, it’s not going to really tell you anything - is this right?
I see an endocrinologist for other things, and recently got him to order an 8am cortisol blood test, and it was totally normal. What kind of numbers have you gotten?
I just had some bloodwork done and my fasting glucose was 14.7 (which is 264).
Do you need to go to the hospital or ER? At what level should you?
I’m really concerned because my blood glucose is suddenly and rapidly rising even though I’m on a VERY low carb diet. Just last year my A1c was 5.1%. March of this year, fasting was 8.2 and A1c was 6.1. April - fasting 10.4, A1c 6.6. Now June - fasting of 14.7. Very worried. Can’t get through to endocrinologist office.
I’m wondering at what level others decide it’s necessary to go to the hospital? Or if there’s a standard level?
I’m having a period every 2 weeks, so I was referred to a new endo and had some testing done.
My LH was really low, flagged out of range, like 0.6. This was done on CD7 of a 15-day cycle. I’m not ovulating and progesterone is really low, my periods are way too frequent and pretty light, and I’m also not getting an LH surge at any point (ordered some LH strips and tracked a full cycle).
Does anyone else have this? I know typically *high* LH is associated with PCOS so I’m a bit confused. The endo was just kind of like, we’re seeing this a lot with women lately 🤷♀️
What causes this, and what can I do about it?
Does anyone know if it’s ok to be on a low-carb diet when getting the GAD65 antibodies test done? You don’t have to be consuming a certain amount of carbs for it to be accurate, do you?
I ask because I have celiac disease and when you’re getting tested with the antibodies test, you have to be consuming a certain amount of gluten or it’s not accurate.
So I just wanted to double-check! And I’m guessing it doesn’t matter what time of day you get the test done?
I’m wondering what kind of fasting insulin and C peptide numbers others had with Type 1.5.
Also, how does one calculate their degree of insulin resistance/if they’re insulin resistant?
Fasting blood glucose: 10.7
A1c: 6.6
Fasting insulin: 53 pmol/L (range: 20-180)
C peptide: 390 pmol/L (range: 325-1090)
How does one tell if they’re insulin resistant? My endocrinologist said I’m somewhat insulin resistant, but to me, these insulin and C peptide numbers look to be more on the low-normal side of things. In comparison, in the past (years ago), I had really high fasting insulin and C peptide - like flagged high out of range. Just feeling a bit confused about how this is calculated/determined.
I’m on a low carb diet and take berberine, and have PCOS (and celiac disease).
I am seeing an endocrinologist but I’m wondering what others’ thoughts are on this. It is worrying me (and puzzling me!)
34F. I have PCOS and also celiac disease (autoimmune).
I’ve eaten a low carb diet for years and also take some natural supplements in part for PCOS: berberine (supplement with similar effects to metformin - used in place of metformin because metformin’s side effects are intolerable), inositol, chromium. My A1c is always in the 5.1-5.4% range.
Last October I got Covid and have been dealing with Long Covid since then. After getting Covid, my blood sugar started spiking after meals in a way that was abnormal for me especially given my low carb diet - nothing too extreme but spiking to 7.0 or 8.2 one hour after meals (previously only rose to 6.0 at the most). Then my fasting went up to 5.8 and at times 6.6 (previously fasting was 4.8-5.0).
In mid-March, my fasting blood sugar was 8.2 and my A1c was 6.1. I cut carbs even further (not much left to cut at this point) - I would have a slice or two of apple with almond butter at lunch and I cut that out. I also added an alpha lipoic acid supplement and then a second one.
I got into an endocrinologist and had bloodwork done less than 6 weeks later: fasting BG was 10.7 and A1c was 6.6.
**So, in less than 6 weeks, my A1c jumped from 6.1 (prediabetic) to 6.6 (diabetic), despite eating even lower carb than ever and adding in alpha lipoic acid??**
Fasting insulin: 53 pmol/L (range: 20-180)
C peptide: 390 pmol/L (range: 325-1090)
Does this make sense?? I’m just so confused at the rapid decline and how all the things I was doing before that were good for blood sugar etc are no longer working and I do more and more and things still get worse? It doesn’t make sense and my endocrinologist doesn’t seem overly concerned. I’m very worried.
TL;DR: got Covid, blood sugar started rising despite low carb diet and berberine/supplements, A1c jumped from 6.1 to 6.6 in 6 weeks, etc
I am seeing an endocrinologist but I’m wondering what others’ thoughts are on this. It is worrying me (and puzzling me!)
34F. I have PCOS and also celiac disease (autoimmune).
I’ve eaten a low carb diet for years and also take some natural supplements in part for PCOS: berberine (supplement with similar effects to metformin - used in place of metformin because metformin’s side effects are intolerable), inositol, chromium. My A1c is always in the 5.1-5.4% range.
Last October I got Covid and have been dealing with Long Covid since then. After getting Covid, my blood sugar started spiking after meals in a way that was abnormal for me especially given my low carb diet - nothing too extreme but spiking to 7.0 or 8.2 one hour after meals (previously only rose to 6.0 at the most). Then my fasting went up to 5.8 and at times 6.6 (previously fasting was 4.8-5.0).
In mid-March, my fasting blood sugar was 8.2 and my A1c was 6.1. I cut carbs even further (not much left to cut at this point) - I would have a slice or two of apple with almond butter at lunch and I cut that out. I also added an alpha lipoic acid supplement and then a second one.
I got into an endocrinologist and had bloodwork done less than 6 weeks later: fasting BG was 10.7 and A1c was 6.6.
**So, in less than 6 weeks, my A1c jumped from 6.1 (prediabetic) to 6.6 (diabetic), despite eating even lower carb than ever and adding in alpha lipoic acid??**
Fasting insulin: 53 pmol/L (range: 20-180)
C peptide: 390 pmol/L (range: 325-1090)
Does this make sense?? I’m just so confused at the rapid decline and how all the things I was doing before that were good for blood sugar etc are no longer working and I do more and more and things still get worse? It doesn’t make sense and my endocrinologist doesn’t seem overly concerned. I’m very worried.
TL;DR: got Covid, blood sugar started rising despite low carb diet and berberine/supplements, A1c jumped from 6.1 to 6.6 in 6 weeks, etc
I eat a very low carb diet and have for years. I also take berberine and inositol. This has maintained my blood sugar and A1c in a good place for years, without side effects. For example, one year ago my A1c was 5.1%.
Last October I got Covid (and am dealing with Long Covid) and now my blood sugar is just worsening and worsening. Now my A1c is 6.1% and I’m getting some diabetic fasting numbers, and at other times my blood sugar is stuck at 8.5 even 4+ hours after a meal. In the not-so-distant past it would return to 4.8 in between meals.
I’m continuing to eat my very low carb diet (in fact it’s the lowest carb I’ve ever been in my life). I’m taking berberine plus inositol, chromium AND alpha lipoic acid, and it’s like they’re doing nothing and things keep continuing to worsen.
I’ve been on metformin before and get chronic nausea that doesn’t go away. I’ve tried Glumetza (extended release) and, paradoxically, that was even worse for nausea and GI symptoms. Next is glp-1s I guess? But I’m worried about the risk of gastric side effects, delayed gastric emptying, etc. And there’s some debate about whether glp-1s are ok with celiac disease (which I have) as we’re already prone to GI issues and the slowed digestion can potentially make accidental gluten exposure worse.
So what options do I have?? Am I doomed to just have chronic nausea and side effects for my entire life??