Not everything that happens to you when you have diabetes is a complication, but sometimes it sure can make things complicated! For women with diabetes, our monthly menstrual cycle not only brings in waves of heightened emotion, bloating and fatigue, but it can also bring increased resistance to insulin and food cravings (i.e. chocolate). What happens when those visits from Aunt Flo stop, or at least slow down, as menopause starts to set in? What happens to the diabetes as a woman ages?
We’re treating this as part of our new monthly series on complications. Although not quite as hilarious as the broadway show on this topic, this is OUR salute of sorts to women who are experiencing The Change:
In fact, the changes that menopause brings in your body can have unfortunate effects on diabetes management.
- Just like with your menstrual cycle, changes in the hormones estrogen and progesterone will affect how you respond to insulin. During the transitional years of menopause (when menstrual cycles slow down but haven’t stopped), these hormones are unstable, and cause problems with diabetes management. Higher levels of estrogen usually improves insulin sensitivity, while higher levels of progesterone, cause resistance. As those changes happen, you’ll notice your diabetes might be more unstable on some days.
- Any time hormones change, weight can change, and weight has a major impact on diabetes. Women who gain weight during and after menopause can see an increased need in insulin or oral meds, so keep on top of trends and don’t assume things will “go back to normal.” And those with pre-diabetes may find themselves with type 2 diabetes, so if you’re at risk, be aware of these changes.
- Oy vey! As if diabetes wasn’t uncomfortable enough, now you can add hot flashes and night sweats to the mix. These can cause big problems with sleeping soundly, which in turn can make your blood sugar levels skyrocket, especially if stress affects your diabetes.
- Those menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and moodiness, can sometimes be mistaken for symptoms of high or low blood sugars. It’s best to not rely on your “feelings” and actually test your blood sugar, lest you treat a high blood sugar with juice!
- If you have type 2 diabetes, you may notice additional health problems set in at the onset of menopause. Women with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of atherosclerosis, which is the hardening and thickening of the artery walls that can lead to stroke or heart attack. Menopause and a more sedentary lifestyle also poses a risk for osteoporosis (bone density problems). Although women with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk overall for osteoporosis, but the risk seems to be even more pronounced for women with type 2.
Menopause is an uncomfortable but unfortunately inevitable part of life for every woman — diabetes or not! Hopefully this provides some insight into what you to look out for going into The Change when you’ve got diabetes.
Ladies: anyone out there already gone through menopause with diabetes? Or beginning that process now? As usual, we would love to hear your “in-the-trenches” experiences and suggestions in the comments section!
My Type 2 diabetes was only diagnosed this April, but I’ve been post-menopausal since 2007.
Based on symptoms alone, I believe I may have developed diabetes at exactly the same time I started menopause.
Many of the complications are identical. It wasn’t pretty. But now I may have some inkling about why the process was SO tough.
Thank you for this article!
I went through a pretty easy menopause, but one thing I will corroborate is the need to test for low BGs — I really couldn’t tell the difference between a hot flash and a low BG. Thank goodness for home BG meters!! Even the old wait and wipe and wait some more ones were better than just not knowing!
I am going through the transition with type 1. yes it does affect my blood sugars-low when I sweat and very uncomfortable. I get my period about every other month and I bleed enough to make up for the month I don’t have it. I get cramps so bad I can hardly function at times. for the most part I am higher when I have it.
Nice to know this won’t last forever, but it is also great to know that what I am experiencing isn’t just me!!
Thank you for this helpful post! Not many people are aware of the additional moodiness and symptoms when you have diabetes while going through menopause.
I am glad I found this site. I am just going thru the change now. I really don’t like it. I am moody,crabby, and emotional and having trouble sleeping with the hot flashes. I am glad also that I am not the only one. For a couple of days I thought I was crazy. I am also glad to know that I need to check my bg more frequently. Thank you.
I have been diabeic since 1998, My numbers were always well control with oral medication. In 2009, my husband of 25 years wanted a divorce and early 2010 I lost both of my parents. I haven’t had a full nights sleep in about 2 years. My numbers are through the roof and I can’t seem to get them controlled. I also have a desire to eat late at night when I wake up. Tghis has been a nightmare and I could use some advice.
Ladies, thank you all! At least I’m not alone in this. Hypo-glycemic since childhood; Diagnosed March 2011 as pre-diabetic; managing it with diet, lost 30lbs so far with 30lbs to go. Menopause started 2009, but hot flashes & night sweats REALLY kicked in in the last few months.
Anita, prayers are with you. My Family Nurse Practitioner and my Nutritionist (both female) have been my saving grace. Both are very good listeners and teachers. Nutritionist suggested to drink warm milk when I wake in the night; helps melatonin. Works most of the time. If I find something else I’ll type again.
Best wishes to all!
Thank goodness I have found this site as I honestly thought I was going quite mad.
I live In Norway and in November 2010 was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I only went along to the new doctor for a smear test but she decided to take bloods as I was a new patient. My blood glucose levels were high and she asked me back for a fasting blood test which still revealed higher than normal blood glucose levels. A point of itnerest was, at the time, I was age 51 and hadn’t had a period for 4 months and presumed I was heading for menopause. I was put on 2 x 500 Metformin immediately and by the following March, my periods had resumed. By May, the doctor was so impressed with my Hba1c of 6.2% that he suggested I reduce the Metformin dose to 1 x 500mg per day. Interestingly, my periods started becoming erratic and by October had stopped. In December the doctor told me to come off the Metformin which I did and since then, by blood glucose levels have been very high.
Could Metformin control our hormones? As it is given to non diabetic women with POCS, it does make me wonder?
Unfortunately, I am back to the very same symptoms I had before diagnosis, weepiness, night sweats, cold feet, daytime hot flashes etc.
I have been following a healthy diet, low carbing and trying to take as much exercise as possible.
What do you think?
Did you get my previous post?
How on earth do you control erratic blood glucose levels and hormone fluctuations when approaching menopause.
My periods had been absent for 4 months when first diagnosed. Is there a chance that my hormone levels were mimicking diabetes?
Donna
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