Menopause and Glucose

Menopause is a natural process of aging. It is like a milestone in the lives of women. It does not happen overnight and the changes begin at least a few years before.

Menopause causes a lot of changes affecting various systems in the body. But there is clinical evidence that hormonal shifts—especially in estrogen and progesterone—play a major role during menopause.

Before menopause, the primary source of estrogen was from the ovaries. After menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen, leading to reduction in its levels.

Progesterone levels also drop after menopause. Both these hormones have an effect on the way insulin works in the body.

Are you wondering what menopause has got to do with Glucose?

We are here to help you decode the role of menopause in diabetes!

Typically, pre-menopausal women have increased insulin sensitivity (meaning their bodies use insulin effectively). They also have lesser incidence of type 2 diabetes over men who are the same age.

Estrogen helps optimize insulin production in the body. However, after menopause, this advantage disappears partly due to the reduction of estrogen in the body.

Reduced estrogen levels can lead to insulin resistance- when your body does not respond to insulin well and blood sugar levels increase.

On the other hand, progesterone’s relationship with insulin is a bit more complicated. There is evidence to show that it can affect insulin sensitivity and that the drop in progesterone after menopause affects blood sugar levels.

This change in hormones and consequent results can not only increase diabetes risk factors but also cause blood glucose changes in women with existing diabetes, adding a challenge to diabetes management.

Other ways in which menopause affects women are:

1. Weight gain
   
   

   There is some weight gain during the menopausal transition and after menopause. Weight gain may require an adjustment in your diabetes medication.
   
   

2. Infections
   
   

   Even before menopause, high blood sugar levels can contribute to urinary tract and vaginal infections.

   The risk is even higher post menopause, when a drop in estrogen makes it easier for bacteria and yeast to thrive in the urinary tract and vagina.
   
   

3. Sleep problems
   
   

   After menopause, hot flashes and night sweats may keep women up at night. Consequently, sleep deprivation can make it tougher to manage their blood sugar levels
   .

4. Sexual problems
   
   

   Diabetes can damage the nerves of the cells that line the vagina and consequently interfere with arousal and orgasm.

   Vaginal dryness, a common symptom of menopause, may worsen the issue by causing pain during sex
   .

To control blood sugar level during menopause, women who have diabetes (or are at risk of diabetes) should consider measuring their blood sugar regularly.

This will help menopausal diabetic women keep tabs on when and how often during the day their blood sugar levels fluctuate.

Thereafter, keeping a record of these readings will help the treating doctor to recommend the best course of treatment.

Eating healthy, balanced meals will also help control blood sugar, as will regular exercise, good sleep, and hydration.

We, at Credo Health, offer you a personalized precision care plan to help control your sugar levels even at difficult times, and make easier the transition to the next phase of your life!