So now I'm insulin-resistant AND have high cholesterol

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QueenSansaStark
QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness
So now I'm insulin-resistant AND have high cholesterol
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  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2008

    I was diagnosed with BC last year, went through lumpectomy, chemo, rads and am now on Tamoxifen.

    Thanks to being chemopausal (at 44) and gaining A CRAPTON of weight (I went from 130 lbs to 150!) mostly in my stomach, I now have high cholesterol and have become insulin resistant; my blood sugar is not in the diabetic range but it IS at the "high" end of normal. I've never had these problems before so I blame the chemo and chemopause and Tamoxifen.

    I've started walking a couple of miles every morning, eating more protein and whole grains, cutting out white flour, having a low-calorie Jamba Juice instead of regular - and I've already lost three pounds in a week! Laughing I'm hoping to keep this up and that my next blood tests will show normal cholesterol and blood sugar.

    Anybody else been through something similar and found what worked for them? I do NOT want to become diabetic, and I do NOT want to take meds for cholesterol.

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  • RockHound
    RockHound Member Posts: 14
    edited July 2008

    My sister (Stage II, mastectomy, chemo, tamoxifen) now has more abdominal fat than before, is diabetic, and has something called "fatty liver."  She is on a low carb diet to help regulate blood sugar.  That's all I know for sure, but yeah, sounds similar to your experience.

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  • pinoideae
    pinoideae Member Posts: 1,271
    edited July 2008

    Well, I too ended up chemopausal at 41.  I went from 140 lbs to 179.  I felt awful (small skeletal frame), my cholesterol skyrocketed.  I also had symptoms of being very very tired.  I joined the gym, exercised for 2 years  2 to 4 times per week and brought my cholesterol down 1 point (but still too high, (still the doctor wanted me to take lipitor but I said no, I will keep working at lowering it on my own)  with diet and exercise and also lost 20 lbs.  But as much as I worked my @#%&* off, could not get past 20 lbs.  And also still the tiredness I could not shake, and then had my thyroid tested, found out I am hypothyroid.  (Apparently chemo can cause this, however, probably a combination of runs in family and chemo for me).  Doctor said my cholesterol would improve with synthroid, and had my cholesterol rechecked after 6 months taking synthroid, and voila, normal cholesterol.  I feel better, I no longer lack energy, nothing is a chore anymore, because I have energy.  Lost 5 more lbs to boot.  Plan to lose 10 more to get to my optimal weight.  If I was still exercising the 10lbs would probably be gone by now, but I am still recovering from tram flap done on June 16/08.

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited July 2008

    I would be sure to include oatmeal and aim for 25-36 grams of fiber in your diet. It's my understanding that helps carry some fat out of the body. I know that you probably love your Jumba Juice, but my motto is that if you eat the fruit instead of the juice you do better because it has 'chew' value and pectins that act like oatmeal in your digestive system.  

    My friend at work, who is not thin, had blood sugar that was edging towards diabetic and she got good results from knocking off the snacks and breakfast at McDonald's every day. However - you have to keep the weight off as well as lose it!  

    It sounds to me like you're on the right track!  Try picking up a Shape or Self magazine. They have good articles and ideas for people trying to get or stay fit. 

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