Dr. Tabatha Barber explains that 45% of women with PCOS have metabolic syndrome. Three of five markers—high blood pressure, central obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL, or high fasting blood sugar—warrant PCOS evaluation. Untreated PCOS raises risks for fatty liver, infertility, diabetes, and uterine cancer.
At least 45%
Greater than 130/85
Over 35 inches
Above 150 (mg/dL implied)
Less than 50 (mg/dL implied)
So at least 45% of women with PCOS have metabolic syndrome. There's another syndrome. What they say is if you have blood pressure that's greater than 130 over 85 or you have central obesity, meaning your waist circumference is over 35 inches if you have elevated triglycerides above 150 or if you have low protective HDL less than 50 or fasting blood sugar over 100. So if that sounds like you, if you have three out of five of those I just listed, then you should be checked for pcos. And if you already know you have pcos, I'm glad you're listening to this episode because I have great recommendations for you to get control of it and reverse this metabolic syndrome and reverse your PCOS because if you have either of those you have increased risk of fatty liver infertility, miscarriage, diabetes, sleep apnea, depression and uterine cancer. So they're kind of a big deal, right? So we want to get control of this. So you need to treat that insulin resistance.
