I’m a Type I diabetic; I’ve had it for 46 years now. Since I finally entered into full menopause/no periods for a year, I’ve noticed a huge amount of high blood sugars that cannot be explained. There is no information about diabetics with menopause to read about, so I was wondering if there is anybody here who might share this problem as well as any help you may have found to deal with this. Thanks in advance!
– Kara, Colorado
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Mags5 years ago
Thank you for starting this discussion. I have suffered from hypoglycaemia since my teenage years no diabetes just severe hypoglycaemia at times and in the last few months it has changed completely as it is now hyperglycaemia, which is much more dangerous to me and to handle in general. I’ve been perimenopausal for a few years now.
Kara5 years ago
I’ve noticed dramatic changes in my blood sugar, both highs and lows that hit me out of the blue, and for no apparent reason. I have not been able to sensibly adjust my insulin needs accordingly, which is driving me nuts. I can sympathize with your hypoglycemia for sure...I hope there are others here who might have suggestion for dealing with this. The consequences of highs and lows can be potentially life threatening. Good luck for now, dear lady❤️
Baba5 years ago
I have type2 diabetes and recently have menopause. I wonder if my sugars have not been controlled because of menopause
Katherine5 years ago
When I reached 45 about three years before my last period, I also noticed a change with sugar tolerance,, I minimize my intake to no more than 25 g max daily, it has helped with so many symptoms.... skin bumps and rashes, sweating, sore lower back and joints, fatigue and frequent urinating, vaginal yeast infections , eyelid inflammation ,, any time I deviate from my diet,, all symptoms return , hope this helps someone ❤️
Jane5 years ago
I’ve definitely noticed the difference in the whole of myself since cutting out sugar.I have much more energy and kept the weight down which can cause other major problems in the body.No more sweating! Getting a full nights sleep too which helps me function better during the day.It all makes sense.It’s a cycle.
Laurel5 years ago
I have diabetes type 2, and am very interested in this topic
PB5 years ago
I’m also Type 2 and have had little to no support from my GP when it comes to Menopause. I’m grateful for this app and community as some of the info has been invaluable!
Baba5 years ago
I have diabetes type 2 and share your interest
Tara5 years ago
Wow me too! I’ve been hypoglycemic since I was eight, I never maintained it because I didn’t even know what it was, my parents didn’t care, I thought I just needed sugar when I felt weak. My whole life I ate unhealthy food and tons and tons of sugar and carbs and at 36 I started menopause I’m 41 now and I am completely sugar intolerant I can have no more than 5 g a day else I pass out For at least two hours, It’s like sugar coma lite. I no longer eat most grains, I keep the carbs very low, also dairy and meat. I pretty much live off of fruit and vegetables it’s the only cure for me and it’s extremely difficult because everything in the store is bad for me! the stuff that’s good for me is really expensive! Discipline is the only answer, not being able to have sugar is really hard and sad, add no grains and dairy and red meat and now it’s miserable. I’m allergic to so much now and no matter how hard I try to check every ingredient of everything I eat I still mess up all the time. I got excited when I see something that has ingredients I can have but then I forget to check the sugar this is my biggest weakness. If I pass out cold for at least two hours from eating 10 g of sugar at once would I die if I ate like a bowl of sugar? this whole sugar thing started right when I started menopause I’m just realizing that right now.
Dina5 years ago
Hi Kara, I have had Type I diabetes for 40 years and within the last 5 years of going into menopause my blood sugars were fine; however, now that I have hit full menopause my blood sugars trend high. I have also gained weight around my stomach, and have begun to have joint pain. Thank you for bringing this up Kara. Following this thread to see if we can get some experts to chime in on this subject.
Nona5 years ago
I have type2 diabetes and my sugar is all over the place. Sometimes it’s high and I watched what I ate then when I eat a lot of what I shouldn’t it’s low.
Kathy5 years ago
Mine has been like that too. (Type 2) My GP says that’s the nature of diabetes but my endocrinologist doesn’t. I’m on insulin but it doesn’t seem to get the sugars down.
Gina5 years ago
Hi. I’m in my 5 year of Menopause and am Type 2 Diabetes within the last year. I have hot flashes and night sweats. My Dr. put me in Turlicity. It helps the body process sugar. While it helps with the Mentformen and diet to control my sugar I still have problems with my sugar being to high.
Karen5 years ago
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 43 a few months after my gynecologist informed me that I was beginning Peri-menopause. I have had such a difficult time with high blood sugar from the onset of my diagnoses. My brother had it from age 8 so T1D wasn't new to me. During a visit with my endocrinologist, I tried to discuss the possible impact peri-menopause might have on my diabetes since this was a time of hormonal fluctuations. He actually said that I shouldn't have any fluctuations because Menopause was the absence of hormones. I immediately thought I needed another physician. An endo should know about hormones. I guess HE doesn't know about peri-menopause leading to menopause. I was prescribed birth control a year ago for excessive bleeding and fibroid pain. I quickly gained 25 pounds around the belly!! I've gone almost 6 months without a period now. It's disheartening to learn that my blood sugar issues could get worse after I enter Menopause. I'm looking into HRT in the next few weeks to weigh benefits in light of weight, blood sugar, extreme chronic fatigue and hot flashes. Great topic for many women.
Elisa5 years ago
I’ve had type 1 for 22 years and haven’t had a period in 13 months. I noticed my blood sugars starting to trend higher regardless of exercise and low carb diet. I adjusted my basal from 12 units to 14 units and I’m back to being stable. Adjusting basal makes a huge difference. So now 14 units is my new normal for basal.
Caroline5 years ago
Hi I am type 2 my blood sugars are high sometimes l am on tablets for it I am afraid of going blind or going into a coma it doesn’t matter what food you eat your sugars are still high and I have menopause as well every day it would put your head away it’s that bad I am interested in this topic thanks
Suet305 years ago
I am diabetic t2 for about 9 years, and it’s been hell on earth going through the menopause approx 6 years now, all ailments under the sun, I feel like a hypochondriac when I visit the doctor, I now have been given HRT which I started 3 days ago. The thing is I don’t know if the ailment I get are diabetic or menopause? But I know I am just existing, stressed, depressed aching from head to toe, loosing hair and teeth, sweating, freezing cold, nausea, flu like symptoms, bloating, mysterious purple rashes on one leg, unable to concentrate, I can stand or sit for long, and the list goes on…
Tammie5 years ago
You are not alone. I’m t2 now and went into menopause following a full hysterectomy at age 47, have gained over 70 lbs while on HRT which I took for the first two years. Gained all the weight very fast. Haven’t been able to lose more than 15 lbs. hot flashes and random facial hair along with losing eyebrows and looking 9 months pregnant make me feel terrible. My weight is under my breasts and all belly. It’s horrible. No clothes fit properly and I get so hot trying on, I just give up.
Aisha5 years ago
Hi all, also happy to see this topic brought up. I’m 47, type 2 diabetes and in the midst of perimenopause. I’m currently taking Victoza, metformin, and glipizide. My blood sugar is generally below 130 but I do get the occasional random spike that is just not explained by anything I ate. But the symptoms….is it the peirmenopause, is it diabetes…who knows??? The doctors sure don’t. I’m not surprised but I am angry that a natural process that half the world population will experience is STILL a mystery.
Elizabeth5 years ago
Me too! I’ve had Type I diabetes for 43 years and I’m 53 now. Although my endo likes my A1C 6.4, my bs spike for no reason. It’s like my body doesn’t want to process the insulin. My humalog used to kick in after 10 min but now I have to wait (even drink my coffee) for 45 min w a good fasting bs. Then if I get distracted and forget to drink my coffee I plummet into the 50’s. Meal planning is a real pain due to timing it correctly. Sometimes I have to reheat my food a couple times because my insulin hasn’t kicked in yet. Good news is that I’m going to be participating in a T1D clinical trial for an investigational supplement which will help break down the sugar faster ( I think but haven’t started it yet so I’m not sure).
Meghan5 years ago
Google Scholar is a specialized browser for research-based articles. Read the summary/abstract of at least 5 articles to get a better view. More recent articles should be informed by past ones. Might be better to search by diabetes type… https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C43&q=Diabetes+menopause&btnG=
Caroline4 years ago
Hi, I’m 61 years old started my menopause 5 years ago terrible hot flushes sweating brain fog and fatigue that are intolerable also recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and under active thyroid. I put loads of weight on. My mother suggested I go to my GP and ask about HRT. Luckily my doctor was a woman and was happy to refute me to menopause clinic where I was started first on progesterone tablet and a gel that I had to rub into my skin oestrogel. I tried this for 3 months but it did not help. So she changed my prescription to a topical patch that I changed twice a week. It has helped a lot. The biggest change came when I was also started on blood pressure tablets. This I think lowered my flushes and sweating. Can I suggest you get your own blood pressure checked to make sure it’s not high. My thyroid had a big impact on my weight gain and I’m on medication to help. Finding Noom weight management has helped me loose 11 lb in 4 weeks. I have not touched sugar or chocolate in my diet and I am starting to feel more energetic and less tired. And the hot flushes are much better with HRT.
Dana4 years ago
I’m 45 and I haven’t had my period for 2 yrs. Type 2 diabetic.
Teresa4 years ago
Yes, my sugars have never been right since I entered peri menopause. I was a diabetic on tablets and basal insulin. Then, I needed insulin all the time. I attended a DAFNE course. My insulin sensitivity just keeps increasing. The weird thing is, none of the medical professionals seem to know anything beyond a vague recognition that there’s a connection. I’ve just started HRT so it’ll be interesting to see what happens next.
Laini4 years ago
Hi everyone! This is a topic I’m very passionate about. I don’t have diabetes but my blood sugar levels began trending a few points higher each year through peri-menopause, which was accompanied by a few more pounds each year as well. After researching, I now understand that our estrogen helps us stay insulin sensitive. When estrogen levels decline, we become more insulin resistant - thus, higher blood sugars and potential weight gain - What I’ve learned is that we need to change our diet according to our hormones. Most women will need to reduce carbohydrate intake (not eliminate) as estrogen levels naturally decline. Hope this helps!
Sara4 years ago
I’m 51 and I’ve been T1D for nearly 41 years and have been experiencing menopause symptoms for the last 3 - 4 years, but only in the last 6 months have I noticed that I’m getting unexplained spikes that continue for about 4 or 5 days. I also go from 4 to +10 mmol in minutes if I have a night sweat. I’ve started to log the spikes to see if there is a pattern so that I can predict when they are likely to happen, if there is a noticeable pattern to them of course. I’ll keep you posted! :)
Gillian4 years ago
I’m 54 and have been perimenopausal/in menopause (worst part being the terrible hot flashes) since about age 45 and had my last period anoo po it 18 months ago. I’ve been a type 1 diabetic since my early 30’s, plus thyroid and celiac disease — the lovely triumvirate of auto-immune conditions. I feel like I have so many factors affecting my blood sugar that it’s been endlessly frustrating to try and sort it out and I’ve also never been in good control. The one positive and hopeful development is that my insurance finally started covering a Continuous Glucose Monitor (I use Freestyle Libre2, but I have a friend who loves her Dexcom system; if you use Freestyle, make sure you and your doctor lobby your insurance to cover the Libre 2 monitor or newer because the previous versions did NOT include the capacity to set alerts for high and low readings, which is *crucial*, imo). Although I’ve gotten this technology too late to prevent the neuropathy that’s currently causing me to lose nerve sensation/feeling in my feet, I am finally in good control of my bg because this monitor allows me to set parameter alerts. This means that the sensor takes a reading every few minutes and sends a beeping alert when my bg has gone above or below the numbers that I set as acceptable. It may take some trial and error to develop a routine that works for you, but my biggest problem has always been that I didn’t test enough, so my sugars would get extremely high before I caught them. Now testing is as easy as clicking a button on my little monitor or tapping the app on my phone, but even better, I get automatic alerts when the bg numbers are just *beginning * to go high or low, so I can take humalog or eat a few carbs to correct and another tap sets another alert signaling to check again shortly. I’m still learning how to use those technology, but for the first time in my life I finally have a handle on my diabetes and I think I’m going to have my first ever good A1C result. Bottom line in regard to this topic is that I’ve never been able to track cause/effect factors but now I may be able to do this. But also, I just wanted to urge anyone who doesn’t have good control and doesn’t use a CGM to go talk to your doctor TODAY and possibly save yourself from a lot of misery down the road. As I say, it’s too late for me in some ways— I started having the numbness and tingling in my toes just about a year ago and it progressed so rapidly — I have lost feeling in several toes on each foot in the space of a year — and I wonder if I’d just gotten the CGM a year earlier, maybe I wouldn’t be in such a dangerous place now. Don’t wait until you’re looking at the loss of your mobility.