Type 2 Diabetes - Menopause And Blood Sugar Levels: What Women Need To Know!

The years leading up to menopause (also called perimenopause), and menopause itself can create some complex and unique challenges for women. And a woman's metabolism slows down by 25 percent after menopause. All sorts of symptoms plague them as their bodies begin to shift due to the ever-changing and fluctuating hormones. While some women go through menopause with little or no symptoms, the vast majority will experience at least a few upsetting and frustrating side effects. One of the possible symptoms of menopause can be blood sugar regulation issues.

If a woman is Type 2 diabetic, she may face some specific problems with blood sugar during menopause. This is mostly because the hormones progesterone and estrogen will affect how the cells respond to insulin. Once menstrual cycles cease to happen, the changes in the hormone levels can cause fluctuations in the blood sugar levels as well. Therefore, a woman may face a harder time keeping her blood sugar leveled out. It might become more variable and be less predictable than it was before menopause. Keeping these numbers in check is very important to avoid diabetic complications.

Because of high blood sugar levels, some women may find that they get more infections such as vaginal and urinary tract issues. Once menopause happens, there is a drop in estrogen which makes it easier for yeast and bacteria to thrive in those areas.

Weight gain is another problem that women can face during pre-menopause or perimenopause, and menopause. This means that their medication needs might change resulting in a need for more insulin or diabetes medication. An alternative is to decrease calories by 25 percent or else increase the activity level by 25 percent in an attempt to beat the slowing down of their metabolism at this time. In addition, some women experience sleep issues such as insomnia and hot flashes. Not getting enough sleep makes it more challenging to manage blood sugar levels as well.

So, how can a woman better manage her blood sugar levels during menopause? For one thing, the levels need to be measured more frequently to make sure that she is getting the optimal doses of medication, if applicable. Making healthier lifestyle choices is also another critical factor in making menopause an easier transition for a diabetic. This includes eating healthier, exercising and giving a lot of thought to a good diabetes treatment plan.

If a woman is on diabetic medication and is starting the menopausal transition, it is important that she talks with her physician to make sure that she has all of the information she needs to make the process as smooth as possible.