Diabetic and Menopausal

[Poppy460]

Good evening,
Has anyone got any advice or information on how going through the menopause affects your diabetes? I am 55years old, type 2 for 3 years now. Had super drop in blood sugar levels in first two years. (By the way same doctor told me to live with symptoms because I was going through the menopausal and then 6 months later said I had diabetes which was off the scale.) So do hot flushes affect your sugar levels? What can I do to reduce the yo-yo situation that I am experiencing now. Finding it difficult to keep sugar levels as stable as I did.
Thanks

 

[Josh DUK]

Hello @Poppy460 ,
It may be helpful speak to our helpline regarding your concerns. Please feel free to call us.

 

[trophywench]

Well - the BGs being all over the place is likely to be your 'ormones luv' Shedloads of well pre menopausal ladies with diabetes find their BG goes haywire before &/or during &/or after their periods because of hormones, and having D and being pregnant needs a helluva lot of input from the lady and her team to prevent things going up the swanee.

How high up does your BG go whilst you're having a flush?

 

[Lady_Serenity]

Hi!
I have been menopausal for about 4 years.
The nights was worse for me.
Years ago, somebody told me to eat Yam, but I could not cut it, so started to take Wild Yam Capsules everyday which has really helped. I felt normal again.
When I don't take them, my family soon tell me because of the mood swings lol
I don't recall it effecting my sugar at the time, but as I started to comfort eat, I put weight on.
Hope this helps.

 

[rebrascora]

I suffered with really bad menopausal symptoms for 5 years before my diabetes diagnosis and after that I struggled to manage my levels and recognise hypos sometimes because the hot flushes etc masked/mimicked them. I eventually asked to try HRT and I so wish that I had asked earlier as it has revolutionised my life. It still blows my mind that a little clear plastic patch applied every few days can have such an immensely beneficial effect. I can now manage on just half a patch every few days and have done for about 9 months with still the same benefit. My insulin keeps me alive but the HRT gives me quality of life and quality of sleep. I would highly recommend trying it if you can find a sympathetic doctor to prescribe it.... doesn't sound like your current one is too well equipped with that personality trait though!

 

[Poppy460]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Some good points made And which I can follow up on.

 

[Jenny101]

Hi Poppy460, I'm a type 1 diabetic (since I was 10 years old), am now 57. I was peri-menopausal for about 3 years with blood sugars up and down like a yo-yo. Last year I had to reduce my basal (background) insulin and within approximately 8 months I had reduced it from 11 units per day to 6 units due to lots of hypos. I have now levelled off but am struggling with hot flushes. It took a little while to work out that immediately before a hot flush I felt like I was hypo (twitchy, tired a bit run down....) and 99 times out of 100 that was not the case - sugar levels were absolutely fine. It must be the annoying hormonal changes. Such fun!!!! I know that you are type 2, not type 1 like me but perhaps my reply might help you understand what you are feeling. Hope this is of some help.