I wrote a long time ago about my 15 yo daughter with the dark skin around her neck and under her arms etc. But, here is an update. Her insulin was on the low side (according to doctor). We finally got some tests done. My daughter is now almost 17. She has lost 17 pounds without trying in the last 6 months. She weighs 133 and is 5ft 4in. Can anyone tell me a little more about the test results? Her A1c was 5.4 which seems a little high for a teenager. Also the total testosterone has a * by it and it is 25, the testosterone is 3.6 and the % of free testosterone is is 1.44. Are these values high or low?

She craves sugar a lot of the time but she also feels nausea in the morning when she goes to eat or other times after eating a small amount she feels very full and can't eat very much. She gets really weak and crampy and tired when she has her period. They sent her to the youth weight clinic at the hospital and she will see a nutritionist but I think she should really see an endicronologist. The doctor she is seeing said they could do that but the endo would just send her back to them. There are few other tests that are slightly high, carbon dioxide total = 28, basophiles total = 96, basophiles % = 1.1.

It worries me that her insulin was on the low side, I don't know the exact amount, and her A1c is high for a teenager. Any thoughts anyone?

There are too many possibilities here medically to comment on and, you're right, she does need this looked into.

But I must say this: You're her mom. You know her better than anyone else on this planet. If your gut says that something is wrong, then something is wrong.

I would recommend you contact a local compounding pharmacy to get a referral for a good doctor who specializes in bio-identical hormones. In my experience, doctors who look into this type of thing are usually a curious lot and *very* results-oriented. They also seem to have a very good grasp of insulin resistance and thyroid disorders.

Just Google "International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists" and dig through their website to find a pharmacy.

(I found one of the best doctors I've ever had with this method.)