--I would still think it would be instructive to have a longer glucose tolerance test--four or five hours--with an initial draw for both glucose AND insulin levels and then half hour draws at least through four hours with both glucose and insulin levels being measured.

You want to see how the insulin/blood glucose relationship is reacting much more often then every hour, and when exactly the spikes are occurring--and what the insulin levels are before the spike and in response to it.

One of the best ways to gain weight is by eating more fats.

Now this means "good fats" of course. Fats 1) slow down the emptying of the stomach, so blood sugars do not spike so quickly, and 2) provide extra calories, 3), good fats, typically are in short supply in our food chain in the US. So improving them, is a benefit to the whole body.

Nuts are a good way. Olive oil, flax oil, in salads are another option. Foods like Salmon, or other fatty fish.
You will want to avoid Trans Fats of course.

I wonder if you are having "dumping syndrome" ...IdiopathicPN?
Dumping is where the stomach releases food too soon. When this happens, it is not broken down as it should be so then it would
not provide nutrients for you...hence the weight loss?
Could this be a side effect from your lung medications?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dum...ndrome/DS00715
This can happen in anyone, not just the bariatric patients.

It is something to think about. And I like Glenn's suggestions too.

Hi mrsD,

What do you think about avocados for Idiopathic PN?

Avocados are good too. Sorry I forgot them. I love guacamole!

People lose weight when they have malabsorption syndromes.
Cancer, and diabetes uncontrolled. But her tests don't point to frank diabetes yet. Some cardiac conditions also cause weight loss, and this is called cardiac cachexia.
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/h...-heart-failure

And some people just lose weight as they get older. (sorry to say I am not one of those types ...sigh).

The fact that she did not show the high spike with pure glucose
means she is making insulin.

She will just have to see what happens with time, IMO.

You are not alone there, mrsD.

And my cardiac issues have made me even more sedentary which has not helped control my weight. I think the only way I will lose weight is when I am decomposing in the ground.

My doc wants to check my thyroid again. I told him ........ waste of time...... I don't think I can use that as an "excuse". Bet it will come back normal. Everything else may be out of whack but my thyroid will be fine.

Yes, i like Glenn's suggestion too. I am open to it...i will try to inquire about the cost.

I eat Mrs.D most of the good fats you mentioned except for the flax oil. I eat 3-4x salmon a week but with the cost increasing every week, i limit it now to just 2x a week. At Sam's, the price of salmon has gone up significantly for the past 2 years. I eat peanuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews for my snacks.

I am so glad you mentioned about the dumping syndrome, but when i look it up i dont manifest the symptoms except for a mild bloatedness. I think the probiotics I take helps with most of my GI problems.

My pulmonologist does not think that my lung medications nor my MAC are causing the weight loss. But who really knows.

Hi Glenn,

I know how frustrated Idiopathic PN must be feeling. Wouldn't it be nice if she could wear a "continuous monitoring device" for a few days. I realize she would not get a doc to order it and the expense prohibitive but it would be a nice thing for her to try for a few days if that were feasible.

I sure hope she can get some answers. As long as her levels do not warrant further testing in her doc's opinions, she will continue being frustrated. Oh, how nice if our health issues were easier to diagnose, especially the neurological ones that do not show up on MRI's etc.

I agree with your testing procedure...... it is just a matter of getting her doc to order it which appears to be VERY doubtful.

[QUOTE=glenntaj;1028858]--I would still think it would be instructive to have a longer glucose tolerance test--four or five hours--with an initial draw for both glucose AND insulin levels and then half hour draws at least through four hours with both glucose and insulin levels being measured.

You want to see how the insulin/blood glucose relationship is reacting much more often then every hour, and when exactly the spikes are occurring--and what the insulin levels are before the spike and in response to it.[/


I dont think the endocrinologist will give me a request for this test. He was adamant giving me a prescription since he does not think that i am even a pre-diabetic. But i would want to take the test, i wonder how much would this cost? Anybody has an idea of the cost?