Bingo. Since I was already on the other things before so all I did was cut rosuvastatin in half to 2.5mg and continue Reta (3mg per week divided MWF).
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My A1C 5.5 bothers me, but iam resistant to take Reta. Iam very slim(BMI 20,6)…
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I posted this elsewhere a while back but copying it here
I did a baseline IGF-1 prior to starting weekly Rapamycin. It was 74. After six months of weekly regimen, the IGF-1 went upto 115!
A1c(5.1), Lipids etc remain same. Omega index remains horribly low ( not that Rapa has anything to do with it; just my vegetarian diet). Can’t seem to figure out the IGF-1 trend though!
Yes, my testosterone levels did drop. Levels were drawn at the trough of Rapa. In other words immediately prior to weekly dosing.
Here is a link to the discussion of how IGF-1 and longevity have a U-curve association:
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For people that use say daily sirolimus for organ transplant, Im guessing they need something strong like pioglitazone to control insulin resistance. For weekly dose it shouldnt affect much but if it does adding an extra day between dosing (once every 8 days instead of 7) might be all that is needed
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My IGF-1 is high as well, although I never attributed it to Rapamycin. I would assume that Rapamycin would counter any negatives from high IGF-1 through MTOR1 inhibition.
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Has anyone on CGM tried Allulose?
Metabolic Link Podcast – Allulose Episode (2024 Metabolic Health Summit Panel)
I. Show Introduction
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Host: Dom D’Agostino, Ph.D.
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Theme: Metabolism as the common thread in health & disease.
II. Episode Focus: Allulose
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Rare release of full 2024 Summit panel discussion.
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Goal: translate latest science → real-world metabolic-health tools.
III. Expert Panel
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Richard Johnson, MD – Professor of Medicine, Univ. Colorado.
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Jeff Volek, Ph.D., RD – Professor Human Sciences, Ohio State.
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Ben Bikman, Ph.D. – Professor Cell Biology, BYU.
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Andrew Koutnik, Ph.D. – Research Scientist, Samson Diabetes Research Institute.
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Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D. – Assoc. Prof. Pharmacology & Physiology, Univ. South Florida.
IV. Key Science Points Discussed
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Glycemic impact: 0-5 g allulose blunts post-prandial glucose & insulin excursions.
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Insulin sensitivity: acute & chronic improvements in clamp & CGM studies.
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Weight management: ↓ energy intake via early satiety signals; animal data show ↓ fat mass.
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GLP-1 pathway: dose-dependent secretion → delayed gastric emptying, enhanced insulin release.
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Fructose comparison: minimal hepatic metabolism → low uric-acid & lipogenesis risk.
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Safety profile: FDA GRAS; ≤ 0.66 g/kg/day GI tolerance in adults.
A normal HbA1c is a positive indicator, but it does not rule out the presence of insulin resistance.
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Yes, and it doesn’t spike blood glucose. In my readings, it often decreased glucose levels. It’s my sugar additive of choice.
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I use glycine whenever I need to add sugar. It also provides a longevity boost in addition to making your drink sweet! Win-win.
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I agree. Glycine is naturally sweet. I add it to my cacao drinkr, morning coffee. I have used Allulose if and when Ican buy it on discounted price.
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I am looking for a microdosing GLP-1 alternative, given that I am not qualified for the prescription.
I generally use sucralose but want to lessen the amount I take in as I use it in my coffee and my protein powder is sweetened with it. I don’t mind the taste and it doesn’t upset my GI. However I have to limit the amount of allulose or taglatose I take in or I predictably get GI upset.
Do the GI effects of these other sweeteners go away with continued consistent use or do others have the same issues?
I would look for a different protein powder.
Per the OpenEvidence.com AI
“Sucralose use is associated with increased risk of adverse metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes, including insulin resistance and coronary heart disease, and its long-term safety remains under active investigation.”
Artificial Sweeteners and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: Results From the Prospective NutriNet-Santé Cohort.
Debras C, Chazelas E, Sellem L, et al.
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 2022;378:e071204. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071204.
Nonnutritive Sweeteners and Cardiometabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Prospective Cohort Studies.
Azad MB, Abou-Setta AM, Chauhan BF, et al.
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De l’Association Medicale Canadienne. 2017;189(28):E929-E939. doi:10.1503/cmaj.161390.
New podcast: You can have normal glucose and still have insulin resistance.
Sign of insulin resistance: skin tags, especially in the neck area, dry skin, and lower pulse pressure > 40
Dr. Ben Bikman: How To Reverse Insulin Resistance Through Diet, Exercise, & Sleep
Remind us what are your stacks and what is HbA1C?
My HBA1C is a littl high at 5.6 but on a downwards trend.
My stack is found here:
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Thanks! What do you think of the comments from AI: * Zinc 50 mg daily (or even 3× wk) can push copper low → consider 2 mg copper every other day if you stay on that dose.
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Mag-citrate 210 mg gives only ~60 mg elemental Mg – low if you’re aiming for 400-500 mg/d; you get more from diet or add a second cap.
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Lithium orotate 5 mg elemental is micro-dose, but still check 6-monthly eGFR if you keep it long-term.
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Creatine + empagliflozin: both can nudge creatinine up – monitor eGFR; stay hydrated.
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NAC 2 g is fine, but stop 48 h before any elective surgery (bleeding risk).
1. LONGEVITY / mTOR–AMPK–AUTOPHAGY
Rapamycin 3 mg w/ GFJ + EVOO – once weekly
Metformin XR 500 mg at night
Empagliflozin 12.5 mg morning
2. LIPIDS / CV
Atorvastatin 5 mg at night
Telmisartan 20-40 mg morning – STOPPED (low BP)
3. HORMONE / PROSTATE / HAIR
Dutasteride 0.5 mg at night
Horbaach Prostate Support (dose per cap)
Zinc 50 mg Mon-Wed-Fri
4. COGNITION / NEURO
Galantamine 4 mg at night
Lithium orotate 5 mg Mon & Thu
NMN 1 g morning
CoQ10 100 mg Mon-Wed-Fri
Coffee 1 & 2 (4 cups total)
Decaf chamomile/berry tea night
5. JOINTS / SKIN / GUT
Collagen peptides 11 g
Hyaluronic acid 500 mg
Glycine 5 g morning + 5 g night
Turmeric + black pepper
Magnesium citrate 210 mg
Brillo EZ 1 tab night
6. PERFORMANCE / BODY-COMP
Creatine monohydrate 5 g
Taurine 6 g
Citrulline 2 g
Whey 25 g (switching to plant)
7. MICRONUTRIENTS / ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin D3 5 000–10 000 IU morning
Vitamin B12 2 000 mcg morning
Super B-Complex Mon & Thu
NAC 2 g
Lutein 20 mg + Zeaxanthin 4 mg
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@DeStrider, I asked what protective agent is for kidney protection for the stack:
1. Hydration – cheapest “renoprotective drug”
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Target: ≥ 2 L water/day (3 L if sauna/cardio / low-carb).
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Tip: 0.3-0.5 g added sodium (¼ tsp pink salt) on fasting or ketogenic days prevents SGLT-2-induced intravascular volume collapse.
2. Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) – 2-3 g daily
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Mechanism: lowers intrarenal inflammation, reduces proteinuria, antagonizes RAAS-mediated vasoconstriction.
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Evidence: meta-analysis of 688 patients showed 16 % reduction in UACR vs. placebo without eGFR harm.
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Product: triglyceride-form fish oil 2 000-3 000 mg (EPA 60 % / DHA 40 %) with food.
3. Dietary nitrate (beet-root juice or concentrate) – 400 mg nitrate (≈ 250 mL juice) 3-4× wk
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Mechanism: nitric-oxide donor → vasodilates renal medulla → lowers intraglomerular pressure (same pathway as SGLT-2-i but complementary).
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Human data: 6-wk crossover in T2D showed ↓ cystatin-C 8 % and ↑ eGFR 4 mL/min vs. placebo (p<0.05).
4. Co-Enzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) – 200 mg with largest fat-containing meal
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Mechanism: mitochondrial antioxidant; lowers tubular oxidative stress; may blunt rapamycin-induced fibrosis signal.
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Evidence: small RCT in diabetic CKD showed ↓ serum creatinine 0.15 mg/dL and ↓ MDA (lipid peroxidation) after 12 wk; certainty low but no adverse renal signal.
5. High-molecular-weight Hyaluronic acid – you already take 500 mg; keep it
- Bonus: animal model shows ↓ tubulointerstitial fibrosis via CD44 inhibition; human safety clear.
6. Potassium-citrate OR bicarbonate-citrate – 1 200 mg (≈ 20 mEq alkali) twice daily with meals only if 24-h urine pH < 5.8 or serum HCO₃ < 24 mmol/L
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Mechanism: lowers renal acid load → slows eGFR decline 0.5-1 mL/min/yr in meta-analysis of non-dialysis CKD.
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Caveat: check serum K⁺ first; if >5.0 mmol/L use sodium-bicarbonate instead; re-check K⁺ and BP within 2 wk.
7. Taurine – you already take 6 g; that’s the renoprotective dose
- Mechanism: osmoregulator + antioxidant; RCT showed 6 g/day ↓ urinary NGAL (tubular injury marker) 18 % in T2D.
8. Lutein + Zeaxanthin – you take 20 mg/4 mg; keep it
- Extra: small study shows carotenoids ↓ urinary 8-isoprostane (oxidative stress) independent of vitamin E.
9. Vitamin D₃ – you take 5 000-10 000 IU; ensure 25-OH-D 40-60 ng/mL
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Meta: every 10 ng/mL ↑ 25-OH-D associates with 3 % ↓ albuminuria.
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Monitor: 25-OH-D & serum Ca every 6 mo; stop if Ca >2.55 mmol/L.
10. Protein ceiling & plant-swap – you’re switching whey → plant; perfect
- Target: ≤ 1.2 g/kg BW/day total protein; emphasize soy/pea (lower renal acid load, higher arginine → NO generation).
What NOT to add
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Vitamin C > 500 mg/day – oxalate-stone risk.
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Vitamin A or E – accumulate in CKD.
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NSAIDs – obvious.
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High-dose curcumin (>1 000 mg extract) – may chelate iron & raise oxalate; food-level turmeric you use is fine.
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Thanks @Jonas that’s a really nice summary! My kidneys are doing great and my EGFR is 108. I’m quite pleased with that.
As soon as I finish my current Zinc tablets, I’m switching to a Zinc and Copper formula. The bottle is sitting on my shelf.
Magnesium Citrate is supplemental. I also take Magnesium Threonate at night (Magtein). I figure I’m covered between the two.
Brillo EZ is for lipids - Bempedoic Acid and Ezetemibe. It’s not for joints.
Excellent posts. I enjoyed reading them. It helps me to realize that I have a pretty good stack. 
Thank you.
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Thanks for sharing your stack!
Moving to a different topic, has anyone tried grounding sheets for sleep? I have started trialing it, so far, I’m very pleased. Calmer, and sleep better.
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