Saw my ND today to get the results of the adrenal function tests.  

TAP Free Cortisol Rhythm:
7-8 a.m.     13      normal       13-24 nM
11-noon       4      depressed    5-10 nM
4-5 p.m.       3      normal         3-8 nM
11-midnight  <1    depressed     1-4 nM

Cortisol burden 21  ref values 23-42

DHEA  result 2  depressed DHEA  ref value 3-10 ng/ml

cortisol-DHEA correlation:  zone 4 - maladapted phase II
This condition is usually the outcome of chronic and protracted stress exposure

ISN  Insulin
Fasting      <3                    Normal:    3-12 uIU/mL
Post prandial  8  Normal     Optimal:    5-20 uIU/mL

Fasting: This insulin value is elevated in cases of insulin resistance.

Test: P17OH Progesterone  result 56 Normal Optimal 22-100 pg/ml

Test:  MB2S  Total Salivary SIgA   <5 depressed  Normal 25-60 mg/dl
                                                                       Borderline: 20-25 mg/dl

F14  Gliadin Ab, SIgA    7  Negative  Borderline: 13-15 U/ml
                                                    Positive: >15 U/ml

The glucose tolerance test of a month ago:

Fasting: 109    One hour: 229   Two hours: 148

My ND says I have insulin resistance, but if you look above it says that the numbers are elevated in cases of insulin resistance.  I don't think those numbers are elevated, but my glucose test would indicate that it is so.  Could <3 be considered elevated?

He wants me to go on Atkin's diet to reach ketosis so my blood sugar levels will drop.  I have been following Dr. D's Diabetes book and sticking pretty close to all those super beneficials and beneficials.  Although he agrees with the BTD for healthy people, he thinks the Atkin's approach is better for diabetes control.  HELP!!!

I don't know what the SIgA or the Gliadin tests or scores mean, but they must play a part in my overall health or lack of it.

I'm pretty sure I need some more help to get back to real health.

Thanks,

Sharon

The IGA-thingy & also the gliadin test was to know if you have probs. with grains containing gliadin; gliadin is everywhere to be found where gluten is too.....mostly- hope I am not wrong here- the tests are done when ther's a  form of syndrome x to be suggested and therefore allmost those tests are done here in Switzerland because this prooves also the resistance, caused by gluten-gliadin intolerances-might be even considered forms o allergic reactions and/or nutrition-intolerancews (foodintol.) If I remember well- I think up from 4-5-5 on the scala one might be called borderliner to a form of pré-diabetic .....any other sugs. are welcome

Hi Sharon,

I can't remember exactly what you eat, but if you decide that you don't want to do Atkins, maybe try an O-non type diet instead?  Ie: no sugar, grains, or dairy.  For the stress, you also should probably increase the intensity and amount of exercise you get.  You can also integrate meditation, stretching.

Hi Sharon,

Because you are way-up-north, there may be parameters in your lifestyle that is somewhat unique compared to a more 'southerly-style'.  It might help with the balancing to follow the recommends in 'Lights Out' by TS Wiley (not to worry right-now ... these will start in mid-autumn) and a magnetic mattress http://www.magneticosleep.com/

I am also very curious how you handle calcium and what your levels of vitamins D3 and K2 are ... calcium can be an important balancing mineral ...

John

try staying away from any neutral grains, starches or sugars that have a high glycemic index which O's sometimes like to eat... speaking from experience. these foods cause a significant rise in glucose in the blood

rice cakes
cooked carrots
honey
pumpkin
watermelon
rice crispies
millet
brown rice pasta
parsnips
dates
processed fruit juice
white rice
raisins
beets
bananas...yes I know...they are a bene...try to eat when they r semi ripe and chew them a bit more
long grain rice
spelt cereal

a great sweetner is Agave syrup...very slow releasing sugar

You mentioned waking up at night time rather than getting a full night's sleep.  I would investigate this further to see if you can resolve it.  Is a family member requiring your assistance at night?  Helping everyone get on a regular sleep pattern would be important to improve adrenal problems, in my experience.

Removing tv's, radios, clocks, computers and other equipment from your bedroom may be helpful.  A japanese style bedroom, with not much more than a bed.

Quoted from Vicki

Removing tv's, radios, clocks, computers and other equipment from your bedroom may be helpful.  A japanese style bedroom, with not much more than a bed.

Also check behind the wall where your bed is and unplug anything you find.

Thanks for the info.  Still not sure what the ISgA and Gliadin ratings mean for me.  John, my calcium levels haven't been checked, but I do take cod liver oil in the wintertime to help with the D3.

The starchy foods and grains I seldom or never eat except for the bananas, carrots, beets, parsnips and brown rice.  The root vegetables are rarely eaten during the summer.  I've used agave nectar for several months as the sweetener in my tea.  I'm still working on the same 2 pound bag of natural sugar I bought four years ago. I love blackstrap molasses, but use it a couple times a year.  Occasionally I do eat Ezekiel bread.  That's usually a couple times a month.

This whole thing is so aggravating because I do watch closely what I eat using the BTD as my guide and then emphasizing low glycemic foods.  Nonetheless, my fast blood sugar has continued to rise.

All I can say is that I'd hate to guess what shape I'd be in if I wasn't following the BTD, choosing lower glycemic foods, taking many supplements to assist with health issues, and doing much more walking.  I know stress plays a big part in this, but I thought eating right would offset the effects of the stress.

Vicki and Don,  
Thanks for your notes.  My bedroom is very bare except for one little clock and a small air purifier.  The air purifier is used becasue of my severe allergy to my cat.  I wake during the night because my nose becomes clogged and breathing becomes difficult.  Nothing has ever worked to get my nose cleared and staying clear for more than 3 hours.  I've had my nose adjusted many times and I do those nose flushes.  Unfortunately the nose wash just increases the stuffiness.  So, I can get to sleep, but know that in about 3 hours I will be awake and needing to clear my nose agian.  This nose issue goes back for about 40 years.  Many of those years there was no cat around.

Quoted from northernstars

Vicki and Don,  
Thanks for your notes.  My bedroom is very bare except for one little clock and a small air purifier.  The air purifier is used becasue of my severe allergy to my cat.  I wake during the night because my nose becomes clogged and breathing becomes difficult.  Nothing has ever worked to get my nose cleared and staying clear for more than 3 hours.  I've had my nose adjusted many times and I do those nose flushes.  Unfortunately the nose wash just increases the stuffiness.  So, I can get to sleep, but know that in about 3 hours I will be awake and needing to clear my nose agian.  This nose issue goes back for about 40 years.  Many of those years there was no cat around.

I'm confused.  If there was no cat around for many of those years, why do you think the symptoms are from an allergy to cats?

Do you have any metal tooth fillings?

Try to put the clock and the air filter as far away from you in your bed as possible.

I don't think the symptoms are necessarily from the cat.  I tested at 35 on the allergy test that say 3.9 is a severe allergy and my score was 10 points above the highest level of allergy.  The point I was making is that many people assume the stuffiness is because of the cat.  But, I am stuffy whether or not there is a cat around.

Do you have lines in your fingerprints?

Don, I do have one tooth filling that is silver.  The dentist was going to remove the filling a couple months ago, but says the tooth will either have to be pulled or I need a cap.  The cap would cost $990 and I would have to pay $490.  That is too much money.  The tooth is the only molar I have left on the bottom on that side, so if I want to chew anything, I need to have it there.  He says there is a great possibility that the tooth would break apart if he removed the filling an replaced it with a resin one.

Quoted from northernstars

I don't think the symptoms are necessarily from the cat.  I tested at 35 on the allergy test that say 3.9 is a severe allergy and my score was 10 points above the highest level of allergy.

Oh, wow, well, if that test was specific to a cat allergy than you are right, it sure does seem definitive, result-wise!  But you are also right, it seems more is going on than just the cat allergy, if you are also symptomatic when you are sans cat.

Don,
A couple fingers do have some lines that are off and toward the side on my fingers and not on the pad itself.

I discovered that leaky gut was the cause of the worst of my severe sinus problems. Do you have any candida problems?

The leaky gut and blood sugar problems can be caused by mercury toxicity.

That allegy thing has been difficult.  There were years when I had not pets.  Years when I owned a poodle or other non-allegic dog.  Years with a cat.  Years when I have had birds.  Years with no plants.  Years with many plants.  Nothing has seemed to matter as far as my nose goes.  

There may be something in Alaska that is bothersome, because when we lived in Virginia (with dogs and cats and carpets) I only had problems a couple times a year.  Then when we moved back to Alaska, my nose started giving me problems again.  Yet, on the allergy test, I showed negative to the trees, pollens, grasses, etc.  I wonder if I'm not overly sensitie to the volcanic ash that is still in the ground.

I did have candida a couple years ago, but was able to get rid of it and all the spit tests since have shown no candida.  Leaky gut, I don't know.

Quoted from northernstars

Don, I do have one tooth filling that is silver.  The dentist was going to remove the filling a couple months ago, but says the tooth will either have to be pulled or I need a cap.  The cap would cost $990 and I would have to pay $490.  That is too much money.  The tooth is the only molar I have left on the bottom on that side, so if I want to chew anything, I need to have it there.  He says there is a great possibility that the tooth would break apart if he removed the filling an replaced it with a resin one.

Sharon, it sounds like the dentist is talking about putting a cap on your molar with the "silver" filling left in place.  Whatever you decide to do, please don't go that way!  You'd be spending a lot of money without getting rid of the silver-mercury amalgam.  The status quo is no better as regards the mercury, but at least it isn't costing you $490!

I know you don't want to lose the function of that tooth, but you do need to consider the possibility that some of your health problems are being caused or exacerbated by mercury from the filling.  You might want to consider having the tooth pulled and then being fitted for partial dentures.

Carol, I may have to go that route, but right now finances just don't permit it.  He was talking about removing the silver, and then either replacing it with the resin or just the cap.  I really don't remember because the thought of coming up with nearly $500 was just cost prohibitive.  So, maybe a little later in the year I can think about having the tooth removed.

You also may have allergies to things in your bedroom. . . old carpet; pillows which can harbor mites; dust, etc.

Once a tooth is removed, it is permanent.  
I have two large fillings left which need to be crowned.  It will be a while before I come up with the funds, but I believe that once I am committed to doing something, the money will become available somehow.  Maybe an opportunity to make some money that I'm not even aware of yet.  

Waking every 3 hours when sleeping for 40 years is rather stressful!

I would do neti pot several times a day for a few weeks to see what improvement that brings.  I would use simple salt water rather than anything else (tinctures, baking soda, etc).  

For advanced neti pot use see the details at http://www.jalanetipot.com/

If you do want to avoid gluten, that would include the ezekiel bread.  I've been off ezekiel bread for many months now and it is okay....

I have a mouth full of mercury and understand the problems with it but focusing on improving sleep is something that would be incredibly helpful in the short term.  

Throw out old pillows.  Wash the bedding regularly and put vinegar in the rinse, etc.  

Carpeting is serious problem as well.  Sleeping in another part of the house may change your sleep habits!

I'm having the carpet in my bedroom ripped out this weekend.  I dread the mess, but I have come to accept the fact that even though I vacuum it, the thing is old and full of xxx****~~####, and probably a lot of other stuff, too!  

I had the livingroom carpet removed this past winter, and wood floor laid down.  It's a process.