Hello again,
Short version:
I have noticed significantly elevated glucose levels since starting clomiphene citrate. Is there a corelation?
Longer version:
I have posted a few times outlining the issues I am having with bad TRT approaches from my docs.
First, I was put on androgel 5g daily for a couple of months afterwhich my total t went from 360ish to 280ish. Then I was referred to an endo who said my total t is still in the normal range and took me off a-gel. I told the endo that I felt horrible and he said to stick it out and if my levels dont get back above 300, then we will talk again. He scheduled a total T test in 4 months (My HMO does not test for free-T).
After feeling horid for a few weeks presumably due to my diminished T levels, I decided to try to help my recovery along by taking clomiphene citrate (generic for clomid) 50mg daily. This was 10 days ago.
What I have not mentioned in those previous posts was that I was diagnosed with impaired fasting glucose last year (it was a glucose tolerance test where my glucose tolerance was “normal” but fasting glucose was high). Since that time, I have lost about 50lbs of fat and put on about 13lbs of muscle by eating right and training.
I have a glucose meter and check my glucose regularly. Typically, my fasting glucose levels would range mid 80’s to mid 90’s upon waking and I rarely had issues with my glucose during the day–even after eating. Almost always below 100. I take metformin 850mg twice daily.
Some time in early May, I began a ketogenic diet. I concluded the ketogenic diet at begining of July. Now, just before I stopped the ketogenic diet, I read about a temporary increase in insulin resistance (starvation diabetes) after a ketogenic diet. So, I have been introducing carbs slowly back into my diet. All through the month of July, my levels were a tad bit higher than prior to the ketogenic diet, but still about what I expected given the increased insulin resistance (fasting glucose between low 90s and low 100s).
However, what I noticed almost immediately after begining clomiphene is that my glucose levels have been a lot higher than they ever have been before.
Yesterday, for example, I had a high carb breakfast–which helped put me to sleep (that hasnt happened in a long time). After waking up (about 2.5-3.0 hour nap) I check my level and it was in the 140s. It took a few hours for it to come down to below 100.
There were several days where my levels ranged from 113-122 and the meals were relatively low carb (broccoli, humus, chicken, cottage cheese with protein powder for bedtime snack)
My levels have never been that high–even when I was first diagnosed and was drinking a 6 pack or two of beer a night along with all sorts of other garbage carbs and not working out. This is troubling because this is with my metformin. Indeed, yesterday I took 850mg three times.
I can’t find anything on the net that discusses clomid and glucose levels other than a few unanswered posts from pre/diabetic women with PCOS who have noticed the same effect on their glucose levels.
There was one mention on another forum about hormone level effect on insulin resistance, but it was in passing and nothing in detail.
Does anyone have any more information or thoughts on this? I have stopped clomiphene and am hoping this is transient (I also had vision issues the first few days which I didnt like). I have worked pretty hard thus far to prevent diabetes and it looks like this is a tremendous step backwards now.
