Is your cortisol abnormally high?

Slightly High Cortisol

Slightly high blood cortisol (a stress hormone) can cause weight gain, diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, pcos, and more importantly cardiovascular disease.

There is a simple and effective blood test that identifies patients with slight cortisol elevation. The test, which is usually covered by insurance, involves a two-step process:

#1 The patient receives a 1 mg oral dexamethasone pill precisely at 11 pm (any day of the week). A prescription needs to be provided.

#2 Then the patient does blood work (cortisol) the very next day between 7-8 AM. The test is positive if morning blood cortisol is >1.8.

If you have any of the following conditions, you could qualify for the above test.

  • Difficult to control type 2 diabetes:

    • Using 3 or more medications for type 2 diabetes.
    • Using high doses of insulin for type 2 diabetes (“severe insulin resistance” state).
  • Using 3 or more medications (including a diuretic) to control high blood pressure.
  • Adrenal tumors or masses.
  • History or diagnosis of PCOS
  • Unexplained osteoporosis or bone fractures.
  • Unexplained rapid weight gain. Example, 30 lbs in 3 months.
  • Unexplained muscle wasting/weakness/loss.
  • Unexplained blood clots such as DVT and PE.

1200px-Cortisol2.svg.png