Diabetes and Menopause: What You Can Expect

Defining Perimenopause and Menopause

First, it’s important to understand perimenopause and menopause. Menopause occurs when a woman misses her period 12 months in a row. It generally occurs naturally, but it can occur after surgery when the ovaries have been removed.

Perimenopause refers to the transition going into menopause. For some women, perimenopause may last for 8-10 years.[i] In most cases, it occurs in women between 45-55 years of age, although some women may begin going through perimenopause earlier.

Some of the symptoms that women experience during perimenopause include[ii]:

• Changes in mood, such as irritability, depression, or mood swings
• Irregular periods
• Bone loss
• Changes in sexual function and desire
• Difficulty sleeping
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Changes in cholesterol levels
• Bladder problems, such as an increased risk of urinary infections

What to Expect with Diabetes and Menopause

If you have diabetes, going through perimenopause and reaching menopause can have a variety of effects on your body. While every woman is different, some of the common changes you may experience include:

• Blood sugar changes – Progesterone and estrogen are hormones that both affect how the cells in your body respond to insulin.[iii] Changes in these hormone levels that occur in perimenopause and after menopause may result in blood sugar changes. You could notice that you have more high blood sugars and more lows. More high blood sugars increase the risk of complications.

• More Frequent Infections – High blood sugar levels have the potential to increase vaginal and urinary tract infections.[iv] The drop in estrogen after menopause can make it even easier for yeast and bacteria to thrive in the vagina and urinary tract, increasing the risk more.[v]

• Weight Gain – Weight gain is common for some women after menopause. Gaining weight could require an increased dose of diabetes medicines.

• Sexual Difficulties – Vaginal dryness is a common symptom of menopause. Diabetes has the potential to damage the nerves of the cells lining the vagina. This can interfere with the ability to feel aroused or orgasm.

• Sleep Issues – The hot flashes and night sweats so common with perimenopause and menopause can make it hard to sleep at night. If you’re not getting enough sleep, it can be harder to manage blood sugar levels.

Tips for Managing Diabetes During Menopause

Menopause may make it harder to manage your diabetes. However, there are tips you can follow to better manage both diabetes and menopause.

Tip #1 – Check Blood Sugar Frequently

Since changes in hormones can make blood sugar levels fluctuate, you may need to check your levels more often. Keep a log of your readings. Those details can help your doctor decide if your medications need to be adjusted to compensate for an increase in high blood sugars.

Tip #2 – Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Healthy choices are always an important part of your diabetes treatment plan. Eat a diet that includes veggies, fruits, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains. Ensuring you’re exercising, aiming for around 30 minutes of activity daily.

A healthy diet and exercise plan will also help you manage your weight. Studies show that women who exercise and maintain their weight can often prevent high blood sugars and higher cholesterol during menopause.[vi]

Tip #3 – Ask Your Physician About Hormone Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help manage the symptoms of menopause like vaginal dryness, night sweats, and hot flashes. Some research shows that taking HRT may improve insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes.[vii]

Remember that HRT does have some risks. Potential risks include blood clots, certain types of cancer, and stroke. Talk with your care team to find out if the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks for you.

Tip #4 – Get Screened for Heart Disease

The changes that come with menopause often lead to weight gain. Weight gain can increase the risk of heart disease even more in women with diabetes.[viii] Talk to your physician about cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. Both are essential for managing heart disease risk and diabetes.[ix]

Sources

[i] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15224-menopause-perimenopause-and-postmenopause

[ii] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666

[iii] https://beyondtype1.org/hormones-and-their-affect-on-type-1-diabetes-management/

[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4346284/

[v] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20044312

[vi] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10746891/

[vii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884259/

[viii] https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/heart-disease.html

[ix] https://www.diabetes.co.uk/menopause-and-diabetes.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/menopause-type-2-diabetes#menopause-and-diabetes

https://diatribe.org/navigating-menopause-and-perimenopause-diabetes

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/menopause-and-diabetes.html

https://www.nextavenue.org/manage-menopause-diabetes