It may help to know that I don't always have it together. I have a
"to-do" list a mile long and I wasted most of my morning not having accomplished anything on it. Knowing that I need to get something accomplished this morning, I get on the treadmill and run. Just do it and get on with my day so I can at least check exercise off my list. I am not sure about you, but that is when God chooses to talk to me. Probably because He knows that I will be still enough during that time to actually hear Him. My thoughts tend to wander during prayer.
(I pinned this on Pinterest long ago and cannot find its original source.)
Like usual, I get on the treadmill and remind myself why I am doing this. I mean really, I don't enjoy exercise much less running. And then I begin to throw myself a pity party because I have no choice but to exercise. I feel helpless. My family's diet now revolves around what I can and can't eat and I think they may be ready to revolt. And despite my best efforts of cutting carbs, adding more fiber and protein to my diet and exercising at least 5 days a week I still feel tired and have crazy hormonal imbalances. So why am I doing this?!? Then God reminds me of a blog post from a new friend I read a few weeks back at Love One More. In the post she states "All I could think about were the Moms who have nothing to feed their kids. The moms who would be proud and would love to offer their family a home cooked meal of rice and beans." So I begin to pray and cry. I am ever so thankful that I have the tools and resources to put a hot meal on the table every night for my family. I am thankful that I struggle with what nutritious foods to line my pantry and fill my refrigerator with. But I am even more thankful for this syndrome. It has humbled me. It has forced me to put my pride aside. It has opened my eyes to be more aware of others and how I can somehow help them. So as I plan meals for my family, I will include rice and beans. It has everything necessary to make a complete filling meal - carbs, fiber and protein. As you ponder whether to make the recipe I have posted, pray for those who can only offer their family this meal.
My Disclaimer
Ok, stay with me when reading this post. I tend to get very geeky when is comes to how the body works. I love it! It all makes sense to me and when something is wrong I tend to look for the most natural approach to healing. Also please keep in mind I am not a doctor or have any other credential
that would qualify me to make many of the statements that I will make,
but I think knowledge is power. I read a lot. I have a degree in chemistry. I continually read medical articles, pharmacy journals, and use my knowledge of body
chemistry and physiology to come to my conclusions.
What's Going on With My Body?
God knew what He was doing when making man and He gave us every thing we need to maintain our bodies properly. Somewhere along the way we have messed up His perfect creation. Those with insulin resistance more than likely have been genetically predispositioned for it. Some where in your DNA there is probably a small piece that is coded to tell your body at some point to make it harder for insulin to do its job properly. Your body needs insulin to properly utilize glucose for energy and stores excess glucose as glycogen for a later day so that you don't fall over and pass out when you haven't eaten in a while. It's a natural body defense mechanism to help man through famine. However, when the insulin in your body can't work properly it can't properly use glucose for energy and can't store excess glucose for energy later. So what's happening? You eat a carbohydrate filled meal and about an hour later your body has digested it and now glucose roams free in your blood. This signals the pancreas to release insulin so that the muscles in your body can use it for energy. But the insulin is not able to unlock the key on the muscle doors to let the glucose in. The muscles are resisting insulin. It says "too bad, so sad you don't fit in the key hole." So the pancreas responds by sending more insulin. Eventually, and hopefully, the muscles will be bombarded with insulin that it now has no choice to let the insulin unlock the key to let the glucose in. Sadly after having the pancreas work overtime for long periods of time releasing more insulin than it should, the pancreas will give up and just stop working. It says "I have worked too hard and now I am done!" This is when diabetes and other metabolic syndromes begin to occur in which you have no choice but to take medication to help.
How it Affects Fertility
So how does this relate to PCOS you say? While the muscles and other organs in your body may be resistant to insulin, the ovaries are not. The ovaries are very sensitive to the effects of insulin. This results in cysts in the ovaries and a change in lady hormones. Now your body is not able to ovulate and not able to get rid of the uterine lining properly monthly because the change in hormone levels are not there. No wonder you're always moody!
My Answer to This Syndrome
Your muscles have no glucose for energy and you have no glycogen reserves for a rainy day. This results in lack of energy and hypoglycemia. I wondered why I always had to eat 20 times a day and I never leave the house without a snack for fear I will be somewhere and pass out. Seriously. I get severely hypoglycemic begin to sweat and see spots. It all makes sense now. It's not too late though. Yes this condition is chronic. Yes I will always be insulin resistant. But there is hope. God in His amazing way knew this some day may happen. He created an escape clause. That escape clause is exercise. When you exercise, it makes the muscles in your body less resistant to insulin. I think your muscles get too tired to say no to insulin and lets the insulin do its job properly. This doesn't mean I can still eat high carb meals though. Along with exercise I try to eat a sensible diet. My diet includes food that would not increase my glucose levels so much that it would require larger amounts of insulin. Remember, I don't want my pancreas to give up so I try not to over work it.
You Can Do This Too!
Sure, diet and exercise. That's easy, right?!? Well for some one with this condition it's really not. You are constantly craving carbs. Constantly! You're body needs energy so it's telling you give me some. You have no glucose in your muscles for energy so now you're tired. And if you do exercise your muscles do not have enough energy reserves so you feel like passing out. It's hard. I know. But you have to do it. I will drink a smoothy with added protein or eat a protein bar before I exercise. I also tend to have a partner with me. This makes it easier to get out and exercise and I have someone to carry me home or call 911 if I do pass out.If this sounds like you, please mention it to your doctor. Let me know, and I will gladly talk with you about it and pray with you. If you want to read more about insulin resistance I suggest staring here. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/insulinresistance/ It is easy to read and offers useful information about the condition.
I started this blog just a little over a year ago because that is what God asked me to do. However, I hadn't figured out what I was suppose to blog about. So after much prayer I think I have finally figured it out. But first a little background information for those who don't know me.
I have been married for ten years to my wonderful husband who I will lovingly refer to as 'The Husband.' I have a sassy and very energetic daughter who we lovingly call 'Sass.' She is truly a miracle and a blessing from God. I live an ordinary blessed life by any means and want to share how God can work in anyone's life if you let Him in. My prayer for this blog is that it will be seasoned with salt opening up doors for His message in your life. (Col 4:2-6)
So why am I blogging? The last few years I have struggled with fertility. There, I finally said it. I also struggle with brain fog, depression and lack of energy. The Husband and I always said if God wants us to have more children He will bless us with more. I cried and questioned Him daily. I resented anyone who asked me if I wanted more children or when we would have another child. The worst was being told "oh, well she's an only child." In my mind I knew they did not mean harm with their questions or words, but my heart ached each time because it just reminded me that I did want more children but it hadn't happened. It wasn't until other symptoms with my menstrual cycle began to manifest that I began to seek medical answers. After many blood tests, ultrasounds, and possible surgery was I finally diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. Finally having a diagnosis brought clarity. I now know that my brain fog, lack of energy and my bouts with depression were due to this syndrome. Most importantly, I now know why I haven't been able to get pregnant and that Sass is a miracle in the midst of my ordinary life.
As I navigate through this new journey, my main goal is to learn more about this syndrome and to bring awareness to it. Many women go undiagnosed, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, endometrial cancer, fat accumulation on the liver, and infertility. There is hope though. Management of the syndrome is simple with diet and exercise. But when the syndrome causes lack of energy and depression, it seems daunting. With God's help and the support of my family, I know I can manage this.
