PCOS/Insulin Resistance Support - BCPs, Glucophage and Natural Healing

There has been a lot of talk on various PCOS message boards regarding which treatment is better for PCOS. It seems that the overwhelming message has been that if you have PCOS, you should take some form of Metformin/Glucophage or your doctor is not treating you well. I am sure that we have all heard that for some "a little bit of information can be dangerous" and I think that applies to us here, as well as on any other message board.

Let me share what three doctors have told me.

PCOS can be treated effectively with diet and exercise. Since starting to eat healthy and exercise regularly, I have noticed a significant reduction in symptoms. My doctor confirmed today that this is the single BEST thing we can do for our bodies. Exercise helps your body accept insulin the same way that glucophage does. It is a simple and effective way to stop PCOS in it's tracks. It's not so much about losing weight as it is about treating your body well and helping it to do it's job. So if you are not exercising, what are you waiting for?

Like many of you, I have read all of the posts touting Glucophage as the answer for PCOS and I think that may be a little extreme. Only your doctor can say for sure which treatment is best for you. If you don't trust your doctor, get a second opinion- and a third- and a fourth…until you are satisfied.

BCPs do not mask the symptoms of PCOS, nor are they an ineffective treatment. For some people, a good birth control pill provides just the right amount of hormone therapy to reduce testosterone levels, start ovulation and regulate menstruation. Symptoms will not mysteriously rage out of control or get worse and your ovaries will not mysteriously cloud over with cysts while you sleep if you are not taking Gluc.

In my case, Glucophage is NOT the right medication because I control my insulin resistance with exercise and a healthy diet (I am talking about healthy balanced meals--not the latest low-carb, no-carb, low-fat-all-fruit-liquid-whatever diet). Glucophage would be redundant since exercise does the EXACT SAME thing as the drug.

Like any other disease, you are in control of your body and you can help it heal itself. This is GREAT NEWS because it shows that you have the POWER here.

Yes, for some, Glucophage is the answer. But please keep in mind that your treatment depends on your symptoms, diet, level of activity, etc. You doctor knows best--not someone on a message board (including myself) who only has one frame of reference (her own) regarding this disease.

Betty

By some of what you said I feel like you are minimalizing PCOS. The reproductive issue are not that much concerning because there are many diff paths to correct those issues. PCOS is the daughter of diabetes. Whats the single most threatening part of PCOS is the fact that it increases the risk of heart disease.

I have never implied Gluc to be used alone. It MUST be used in conjunction with a good diet plan and exercise.

BCP DO NOT treat PCOS, only the symptoms. Yes, diet and exercise does help decrease PCOS but it does NOT *TREAT* insulin issues, it only aids in the correction of it.

So while exercise and diet do help PCOS, it does not stop hault the age of PCOS. There are plenty of PCOSers that are fit, eat wonderfuly, exercise regularly but are still PCOS and have complications. If these *only* where the answer then these people wouldnt be PCOS, right?

Glucophage is a treatment drug that helps insulin production and responce. Again, exercise and diet will HELP that but not necessarily correct it.

HS, I don't think you understand what I was trying to say in my post so let me try and clarify.

The point of the post is to say that there is NO NEED to take such a strong medication as Glucophage *IF* you are able to control your insulin resistance with exercise. IF you CAN'T control your insulin resistance with exercise, then for heaven's sake, take the gluc.

I would think that most women would prefer to control their insulin problems naturally and avoid all of the side effects of gluc if they have the choice. This is why I posted my comments. I am not minimizing the disease, nor trying to get anyone to take my advice. I just want to share my experience for those who could benefit from knowing that they can be empowered and responsible for their own health.

I can see that my post has personally offended you. I was not attacking you. The post was not even directed to you. Obviously, you saw something in my post that caught your attention maybe my description of the "Pro-Gluc" postings reminded you of your own. In that case, mabe it is a good time for me to suggest that you be especially careful what you post here. Since you claim to be a professional educator, people pay more attention to what you say. Women who don't know that you have no medical credentials may take what you say as gospel and that is awfully dangerous.

I have shared some of your posts with my doctor and she said that while you are partly correct, you are not sharing the whole story.

We all know that BCPs do not treat insulin resistance. What they do is level the hormones that have been thrown out of whack as a result of the insulin resistance. This helps to reduce some of the symptoms of PCOS.

For me, and possibly for other women, exercise works to control insulin and helps my cells accept glucose. My doctor's exact words were "Exercise and Glucophage do the SAME thing".

Taking gluc would be stupid and redundant FOR ME and WOMEN LIKE ME. IF that is not the case for you, take the gluc!

I am not anti-glucophage but I am not pro-glucophage either. I think each woman's treatment should be personalized. And I am not about to take Glucophage simply as a "preventative measure" especially when my doctor tells me it would be a waste. Why should I have to deal with all of those side effects when the side effects from exercise are so much nicer and I am not pumping my body full of drugs?

Was not taking it personal, did not feel attacked. I just disagree with some of your post and your doctor. Exercise and gluc do not do the same thing.

Also, IR doesnt necessarily mean guidelines either. All PCOSers are somwhat IR but their IR may not be bad enough to register as within the IR guidelines. The doctors I work (3 of the 5) with all agree the guidelines need adjusting because they are a bit too leniant. Its also important to remember there are 2 types of IR. One is your body is ignoring it (not necessarily correctable by exercise and often missed in IR testing because of the guidelines. I am part of this IR group) and the over production of Insulin which can be helped by exercise but not always and usually is picked up by IR testing. I am IR due to responce but according to the guidelines as they are, Im not.

Im not upset or offended by you except that again, it sounded like your post was minimalizing PCOS to me. I am offended by your doctor though for saying that gluc and exercise do the same thing, clearly they dont. I also know that no 2 docs will give the same answer either and not all doctors agree with certain things. You gave your opinion based on what you know and are told and I gave mine based on what I know and told.