Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver

@mark_fugate, I want to extend my hand and say 'Welcome" to the Connect discussion Group. I am happy that both you and your doctor are working together for your best care.
I was monitored regularly by my GI for another liver condition. So I know how important it is to keep up with those screenings and labs. May I ask a question? What does your doctor suggest when your numbers get 'out of whack?
Rosemary

I do much of my own research on those topics with guidance from my doctor. Everyone is different what works for me may not work for anyone else. That being said, I express what I think, she, my doctor, compliments my thoughts with her's, and from that we derive a plan to address my current condition(s). Further, I keep my wife involved which helps immensely. It is far easier for me to maintain a healthy diet when my wife is doing the same.

Making note that everyone is different, requires, at least for me, to proactively research my condition(s). I subscribe to "Diabetes Forecast" which is loaded with information about diabetes and healthy diet.

A book that I am very fond of, and that my wife is reading now, is "What Do I Eat Now"? That book is a great resource for learning to eat healthy. http://www.shopdiabetes.org/1875-What-Do-I-Eat-Now-2nd-Edition.aspx

You can probably find this book at other sources cheaper. I prefer to purchase from ADA because of where the money goes. That is, indirectly to helping me and others.

@rosemarya I just did a brief look at this article. Most of it is very good but I guess I must have been a real anomaly. The symptoms listed are:
Abdominal swelling (ascites)
Enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin's surface
Enlarged breasts in men
Enlarged spleen
Red palms
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

I had none of these. I did get ascites long after my cirrhosis diagnosis, very shortly before my transplant. When my platelet count was low I had a scan of spleen -- I think a CT scan -- and that was normal! I never had jaundice, even right at the end. Long before any other symptoms, I did have edema in my feet and ankles but that was primarily when I traveled. It would commence with the flight and get worse over vacation, presumably because eating out all of the time caused me to be eating more sodium than typical for me.

I sure had plenty of other symptoms though, but these seem to be the symptoms that are generally the first noticed.
JK

@contentandwell

I appreciate your thoughts! It seems that many of us do not follow the typical symptoms of the disorders that we are eventually diagnosed with. Your post reminds us all to persevere in order to get a diagnosis and keep advocating for ourselves. This was very true with my Parkinson's diagnosis.
Thanks for that great reminder!

Teresa

Another thing that I learned from my wife is that not only does the patient get sick, the entire family gets sick. It takes effort from everyone to get well.

I recently survived a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism with some other complications, along with my diabetes going totally out of control. It was very much a team effort that included my doctors, nurses and family members. I learned much from my wife about the family gets well during this experience.

@mark_fugate, I definitely agree that we, the patients, must take responsibility of our health by being our own advocates. And that includes the research and the inclusion of conversation with our doctors along with the support of spouse and family. It is evident that both you and your wife are receiving the benefits of this effort. (My husband is eating healthier because of my nutritional needs, so we both benefit).
I want to thank you for the book reference, and the link that you have provided!
Rosemary

@contentandwell, I know what you mean about being an anomoly! We really ARE all different. and it amazes me how our doctors come even 'near' to figuring out our diseases!

I posted the Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a reply to question that was posted earlier : "How is Fatty Liver disease diagnosed."

I don't know anything about the insulin resistance, though. After my transplant, I had to check my glucose levels and have insulin during the time when I was on a high dose of prednisone. But that is my only experience with it.
Hugs,
Rosemary

@rosemarya as I have mentioned, I too had bg problems when on a higher dose of prednisone.
These were most of my symptoms. The ascites I did not have until the very end. I, of course, had no idea but after I found out I had cirrhosis I discovered that all of these things that I was suffering from were known symptoms of cirrhosis.

* Declining platelet count
* Hand tremors
* Recently diagnosed diabetes
The above three things started more than 5 years before my cirrhosis diagnosis

* Terrible leg cramps. These started in my thighs at night and over time progressed to my lower legs and feet and sometimes hands
also. The thigh cramps were excruciating. These also started a couple of years before my diagnosis.
* Cold
* Trouble sleeping leading to day naps
* fluid retention in feet (edema)
* fluid retention in mid-section (ascites)
* Hand-writing deteriorating
* and, the big one -- HE - irrational, tired
JK

@rosemarya Thanks for that great article, Rosemary. I never really understood how complex fatty liver disease was.

Teresa

Hi, @dlewins - just wanted to follow up with you and your mention of your experiences. Sounds like you've taken Metformin? Have you also experienced insulin resistance associated with fatty liver?

@mark_fugate and @musicflowers4u - wondering how you are doing?