Our credentialled diabetes educator CHARLOTTE ROWLEY explains how menopause can affect your diabetes.
Ah, the perimenopause period!
As if hot flushes, night sweats, and all those unpredictable emotions weren’t enough to deal with, did you know that hormonal changes during menopause can have a big impact on your diabetes management? After all, what do diabetes and menopause have in common? They’re all about the hormones!
During perimenopause, the hormones oestrogen and progesterone (the female reproductive hormones) decrease, while testosterone and other hormones increase. These hormonal changes are important in insulin sensitivity, or on the flip side, insulin resistance. An analogy used regularly in our programs describes insulin resistance as the “rusty locks” that stop insulin from working properly, leading to an increase in blood glucose levels.
This is not a linear process. During perimenopause, hormone production fluctuates up and down, sometimes over multiple years. Because of this, you may find your blood glucose levels fluctuate. When your body is producing hormones, you may find that your blood glucose levels are easier to manage; however, you may be more at risk of a low or hypo.
During perimenopause, hormone production fluctuates up and down, sometimes over multiple years. Because of this, you may find your blood glucose levels will fluctuate.
As your body is producing less oestrogen, you may notice that your blood glucose levels are higher than usual or that you need to increase medication or insulin.
Aside from changes in hormones, this is often a time when some women are going through other life changes, such as changes in work, taking care of grandkids, or going on more holidays. On top of that, many women experience changes in their sleeping patterns. With all of this happening, it is not uncommon to see changes in weight or body composition during menopause, particularly around the abdomen, which can increase insulin resistance.
So, what can we do to manage diabetes during perimenopause? Firstly, we might need to increase blood glucose monitoring, particularly if you are on insulin. Medications may need adjusting, especially for those who take insulin, and carb-to-insulin ratios may need modifying.
Secondly, this is often a time when nutritional requirements are changing on many fronts. Increased calcium needs and reduced carbohydrates are one aspect, but receiving personalised advice from a qualified dietitian can help you adjust your diet. This is particularly important for promoting cardiovascular health and bone strength. Lastly, keeping active or starting an activity is a great way to help manage your blood glucose levels, weight, and cardiovascular health.
If you need support navigating your diabetes through perimenopause and beyond, our team can help! We have diabetes educators and dietitians who can support you in making the best decisions during this time and thriving through menopause.
The stages of menopause
Premenopause • The time before any menopausal symptoms occur. • Women still have periods, whether they are regular or irregular. Perimenopause • Means “around or near menopause.” • Women experience symptoms of hormonal changes. • Women can still become pregnant. • Usually lasts about four years, although can be shorter or longer. Menopause • Occurs when a woman no longer gets a period for 12 consecutive months. • The ovaries have stopped producing eggs and most of their oestrogen. • The average age of menopause is 51 years old. Postmenopause • It has been more than a year since a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
