If you are noticing the early signs of lipodystrophy, there are steps that can be taken immediately in conjunction with Western medicine. One of the important things to note is that even when one notices an increase in abdominal fat, there is often loss of lean muscle mass in other areas. Anyone who has lost five to ten percent of their body weight within three months time and who suffers from chronic diarrhea or fevers in the absence of any disease other than the primary HIV infection conforms to the current definition of HIV-wasting syndrome. There are several reasons why lipodystrophy might occur. Protease inhibitors and some other antiretrovirals are associated with a state of insulin resistance in such individuals.
Conditions associated with insulin resistance include high blood sugar, diabetes, and heart disease.
Since the 1998 Geneva AIDS conference, many studies have documented an association between the use of protease inhibitors and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance also may be correlated with lowered free testosterone levels in both women and men, leading to testosterone replacement therapy. According to Dr. Mary Romeyn, the most important blood test is for albumin, which is produced by the liver. Prealbumin testing provides more targeted information than the TIBC test, but it can take four days to get results and, in a situation that calls for immediate action, that is too long to wait. For details on these tests, refer to Dr. Romeyn's book, Nutrition and HIV .