A: Instant oatmeal has been processed to cook more quickly. It has a higher glycemic index than whole-grain oats. As a result, it is likely to raise blood sugar more quickly than whole-grain oats. In addition, many instant oatmeal varieties are sweetened, which would further increase the blood sugar response.
If you don’t have time to cook regular oatmeal in the morning, you might try cooking it the night before or soaking the oats overnight to speed cooking. That way you still would get the “whole-grain benefit” you are currently missing with instant oatmeal.
A: You are not the only patient who has been unhappy with levothyroxine (T4-only) treatment of hypothyroidism. A recent online survey of more than 12,000 individuals with hypothyroidism found that those taking levothyroxine alone were least satisfied with their results (Thyroid, online, April 5).
People taking a combination of T4 and T3, as you do, were better pleased with their treatment, while those taking desiccated thyroid extract, such as Armour, reported the fewest problems with weight control, fatigue, mood and memory.
The body converts T4 to the active hormone T3 by removing one molecule of iodine. But as many as 15 percent of hypothyroid patients are less efficient at this conversion (Annals of Internal Medicine, Jan. 5, 2016). They deserve treatment that includes T3 so that they can feel well.
A: Vitamin B-12 is critical for proper nerve function and balance. Deficiencies in this important nutrient become more common with age. Other predisposing factors include use of medications such as strong acid-suppressing drugs and the diabetes drug metformin. Vegetarians and vegans don’t get vitamin B-12 in their diet and thus are also more susceptible to deficiencies.
Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency include fatigue, dizziness, sore tongue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness, personality changes, and tingling and burning in arms and legs. Prolonged lack of this nutrient may lead to anemia, depression, confusion, dementia and weakened immunity.