For women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, how do insulin needs change during menopause?
[back to diabetes and pregnancy questions] Insulin and Menopause: The biological changes that take place in the seven to eight years prior to menopause are called peri-menopause. During these years you transition from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. During peri-menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones can fluctuate, resulting in wide swings in blood glucose levels. With lower estrogen levels you may have increased insulin resistance and higher blood sugar. However, an early sign of dropping progesterone in the peri-menopausal period is a reduced insulin requirement. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are approaching menopause, you will need to check your blood glucose several times a day, including a 3:00 am reading. This will help your doctor to make the necessary adjustments to your insulin doses.
The biological changes that take place in the seven to eight years prior to menopause are called peri-menopause. During these years you transition from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. During peri-menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones can fluctuate, resulting in wide swings in blood glucose levels. With lower estrogen levels you may have increased insulin resistance and higher blood sugar. However, an early sign of dropping progesterone in the peri-menopausal period is a reduced insulin requirement. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are approaching menopause, you will need to check your blood glucose several times a day, including a 3:00 am reading. This will help your doctor to make the necessary adjustments to your insulin doses.
