Last week, I updated you all on my PCOS story, but also let you know I had some results pending. My tests came back and my doctor confirmed that I have PCOS, but he’s also confirmed that I have Diabetes and have for a while now. (My last doctor was not great, as I may have mentioned, but she had the same tests done with the same results and never even brought the possibility of Diabetes up to me!)
I’ve taken a few days to really digest this information and figure out how I should approach this news to you all. Given that I talk openly about plus sized health and wellness, I knew it was something I needed to disclose, and something many of you are probably dealing with as well.
The reality of the plus sized movement is that we can all be happy with who we are in the skin we are in. On the adverse side of that, there is a very real need to address being healthy. Obesity is a disease, and if you let it go without being mindful of your weight and the effects it’s having on your body, you could have some bigger issues on hand.
I’m not saying this to be preachy. I am not telling you to lose all your weight, be stick thin, and hand over your Lane Bryant for some Anne Taylor. I am simply saying to be mindful of your overall health. Get tests done, know your limits, and LIMIT YOURSELF, because it’s better to limit yourself in order to keep up with your health than to end up at the doctor being limited in order to get your health back.
What now?
I never wanted to hear the news I heard on Monday. Diabetes was never something I thought would come out of my doctor’s mouth, but with that said, I do not want to have this for my whole life. I am a “conquer it” type and know I will do what I must to control it, and to gain the control back for myself.
I’m going back to healthy eating. Obviously diabetics limit sugar, so I will be doing my best to do this. (And cutting my frenemy, soda, all together.) If you want to see what I am eating or get to healthy eating along with me, feel free to follow along with me on myfitnesspal.com/lifeviabrittney.
My doctor put me on Metformin, which I am starting on Monday. This is something given to women with PCOS to try to balance out their insulin resistance as well as people with diabetes, who obviously have insulin issues as well. My doctor also has me on progesterone for help to bring on menstrual cycles. I’ve taken 1 set and brought a cycle on, but he’s prescribed a few more rounds as well. HOPEFULLY I am in a place to naturally cycle before October, which is when he would have me take it again. We’ll see though! I will keep you all updated, as I usually do!
How about you?
Have any of you ladies been put on Metformin for PCOS or Diabetes? How have you liked it? Any wise words or words of comfort for me?
I am so sorry to hear that! I started metformin over a month ago as I was recently diagnosed with PCOS (high testosterone, overweight & polycystic ovaries – birth control was regulating all these things for me but when I stopped it, I started having many problems) & thought I would let you know of my time with it. My doctor started me out slow – 500mg for a week, then 1000mg until I felt that my side effects weren’t too bad, then to 1500mg. In the beginning, I did have quite a few GI issues when I moved on to the 1000mg – I just made sure that if I was going to eat, I would be home/near a bathroom in case – about two weeks of it though, that wasn’t really an issue & moving up to 1500mg didn’t really have the same effect. It has helped some with my acne & I think that it is also helping less problems I have with excess facial hair (it is supposed to help regulate my testosterone so here’s hoping!). I also started my period two weeks into taking it! It had been over 100 days since I had a cycle! I am currently TTC and very positive that metformin will help me with my journey! I also wanted to thank you for being honest about this – I know a lot of the plus size community really doesn’t like to bring up that weight can effect health & while I so wish that were true, for some of it, our weight doesn’t help us & we should not be ashamed to want to make ourselves healthier by losing weight. I hope metformin does as much for you as it has for me!
Thanks so much for sharing this with me! It’s incredible what modern medicine is able to help with. I am excited to begin using the prescription and really focus on improving my health. Do you follow a specific diet along with taking the medicine?
I am trying my hardest to follow a low glycemic diet – I don’t have the insulin resistance/glucose issues but I know that diet is supposed to help with PCOS in general. It is really hard though when you have a sweet tooth! I bought a cookbook on Amazon called The Low GI Slow Cooker – it has a lot of great easy prep meals & it is nice to not have to figure out the nutrition information myself. I usually make one of them on Sunday & eat it for my lunches for the week – sometimes I will freeze it into portions and make something else to alternate in case I find myself getting sick of something (I know that is when I will make bad choices!) Mason Jar salads are another great way to eat less carbs & are easy to prep! And I do my hardest to keep my sweet tooth in check with really dark chocolate + fruit…it doesn’t always work, but all I can do is try!
I am taking Diabex which from what I read is another form of Metformin. I have had minimal side effects taking it and it’s definitely made me feel better generally. I have PCOS and am prediabetic so my endocrinologist wanted to get on top of it now. The forums I have read say a similar thing, when metformin has been too harsh/causing nasty side effects they have switched to diabex and had less. It’s meant to be the same thing though so I have no clue why it would be better for them. Good luck with it! Really hope you start improving on it! We are all in this together xo
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t been having any nasty side effects yet- but my dr. has me on a pretty low dose right now. I will have to keep that in mind if things start going south! I am glad you are getting on top of your health too. It’s so important!! XOXO