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Blood Sugars and HRT

T

Tannalla

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
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She/Her
Hi All,

I have just started Evorel Conti HRT patch and it appears to be impacting my blood sugars. My much improved control after years of not looking after myself is being challenged. I already take quite high doses to keep my sugars in line but since starting the HRT I am having to inject more and more. I have a follow up with the GP in a couple of weeks but I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this or if it's just coincidence.

I am 46 and have been type 1 since age 19. My last HbA1C was 53 after sitting around 90-100 so I don't want to mess up my good work.
 
Hi.

I use Evorel Conti patches and I find my levels easier to manage IF I use them regularly but I often forget and end up with just one patch a week and I find I start to need more insulin when I am not using it regularly. That said, I am quite a bit older than you at 61, so my hormone balance is probably a bit different.
I have to say that they have revolutionised my life and it really blows my mind that those little bits of plastic on my hip twice a week (or even just once a week when I forget 🙄 ) can have such a massive impact. I sleep like the dead right through the night without needing the loo or having any unbearable hot sweats. I can wear high necked clothing again after 5 years of having to avoid them because when I was overheating so badly I would need to waft and spray my skin with cold water and I genuinely felt like I would pass out if I had high necked clothing on.
I really hope your levels settle down and you get as many benefits from HRT as I have.

Are you able to do much/any exercise as that should help reduce the amount of insulin you are needing.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi.

I use Evorel Conti patches and I find my levels easier to manage IF I use them regularly but I often forget and end up with just one patch a week and I find I start to need more insulin when I am not using it regularly. That said, I am quite a bit older than you at 61, so my hormone balance is probably a bit different.
I have to say that they have revolutionised my life and it really blows my mind that those little bits of plastic on my hip twice a week (or even just once a week when I forget 🙄 ) can have such a massive impact. I sleep like the dead right through the night without needing the loo or having any unbearable hot sweats. I can wear high necked clothing again after 5 years of having to avoid them because when I was overheating so badly I would need to waft and spray my skin with cold water and I genuinely felt like I would pass out if I had high necked clothing on.
I really hope your levels settle down and you get as many benefits from HRT as I have.

Are you able to do much/any exercise as that should help reduce the amount of insulin you are needing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply. I have only been using them for a couple of weeks so hopefully my levels will balance out with more prolonged use. I do some exercise like walking the dog but my job is very sedentary and my energy levels are low at the moment. I know I should do more. However, I do have to agree I have noticed a marked reduction in the night sweats and hot facial flushes so will defintiely persevere. 🙂
 
I use HRT for peri @Tannalla but not a combined patch. I found that peri made my blood sugars madly erratic but the HRT smoothed things out incredibly. So, I’d give it a little longer for things to settle down.
 
What dosage of the patches do you take? GPs quite often start us ladies on a dose that is way too high for what we actually need and you may be able to reduce it.

I manage fine on a 25mcg patch (the lowest you can get) of Estradot. I can't say I've ever noticed it makes a difference to my BG but HRT does make a massive difference to my life so I wouldn't want to be without it.
 
My Evorel Conti patches are 3.2mg of Estradiol per patch and you apply 1 every 3-4 days, but I can usually manage with all the benefits on 1 every week. I did go through a phase of cutting them in half and apply every 3-4 days but using 1 a week seems to have the same effect, plus I would forget to apply the other half. Once I let it get much over a week I see minor menopause symptoms starting and more BG fluctuation.
 
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