“How does PCOD cause sugar fluctuations?”

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) represents a condition occurring in females where hormone imbalance affects both insulin and testosterone levels. Resistance to insulin action causes large amounts of insulin to be produced by the pancreas This exhausts the pancreas over time and may lead to diabetes. Before blood sugar levels rise to the range seen in diabetes, swings in glucose may be experienced with very low glucose results recorded. Prevention of progression to full blown diabetes involves meal planning for weight control.
Unusually high testosterone levels are also seen and may interfere with menstrual periods and cause unwanted hair growth.

Polycystic Ovary Disease is associated with insulin resistance. I have little data here. I am making a presumption that there may be a weight issue which is also associated with PCO. It is really hard to lose weight because the body fights to keep at its set point. But if you’re part of the 3 percent that can lose weight and keep it off, this could solve that problem.

The connection between diabetes & PCOD is true & the insulin resistance of diabetes can affect the PCOD & PCOD can effect insulin resistance & thus blood sugar. It is a vicious cycle & we are never sure where the circle begins only that we need to break the cycle. Here is a simple version of what happens--In PCOD the egg is not forming & being released properly so the body that supports the egg does not produce the estrogen & progesterone it is supposed too. Rather it produces excess amounts of male hormone (testosterone). This hormone when produced in large amounts can cause resistance to the action of insulin thus causing elevated blood sugar that can intern have an adverse effect on the pituitary gland in the brain that produces the hormones that stimulate the egg formation & release of estrogen & progesterone. This causes the formation of the cyst & testosterone production. We don't know where this circle begins- Is it the cyst that starts it by too much male hormone or is it the insulin resistance from over-weight, and/or genetics (susceptability to diabetes) that starts it or some where else in the cycle. Anyway it can be controlled. Metformin can control the blood sugar and reduce the insulin resistance, birth control pills can decrease the testosterone & restore normal female hormones and there are other meds that can decrease testosterone action & insulin resistance. All these meds are generic & cheap & I have found a combination of the to be safe & effective. Don't forget though that breaking this cycle causes an increase in fertility so if you are sexually active & do not want to get pregnant use precaution.

The back nine to the disease is based on insulin resistance and leads to metabolic syndrome subsequently to glucose variability and type 2 diabetes