Question from Wichita, Kansas, USA:

My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed in January of this year with insulin resistance. The doctor ran several tests, CT-Scan, Sonogram, Blood work, GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test), B/S and laboratory results were all normal. One exception was her fasting insulin level, which was 65.1 uIu/mL.

She was prescribed 1000 mg of Glucophage XR daily, changed her diet and added more exercise. After a few weeks, she began to feel much better. Now, it�s April and many of the original symptoms have begun to resurface. After two weeks of feeling crummy again, my daughter went back to the doctor and he drew blood work again. All results were normal, except her fasting insulin level was now 182.0. So, the doctor increased her Glucophage XR to 1500 mg daily, 500 mg in the morning with breakfast and 1000 mg in the evening with dinner. He said we’d check her again in two months.

I’m so confused! If she felt better for a couple a months, doesn’t that mean her insulin level was going down, getting better? If that is true, then how could her fasting insulin level now be almost three times what it was three months ago, while on Glucophage XR 1000 mg? Also, how long would it take for the increased dosage to affect her insulin level and show improvement in her laboratory results?

I’ve read lots of information on insulin resistance, diabetes, and the glycemic index, but still can’t find an answer to this puzzle of rising insulin levels while on medication. Any clarification you could give would be appreciated.