Menopause can bring new challenges and complications for women with diabetes.
“Perimenopause and eventually menopause lead to a natural decline in estrogen, which increases insulin resistance and can potentially make diabetes management more challenging,” says Thomason.
“A critical part of this phase for any woman with diabetes comes down to her lifestyle habits.”
Thomason emphasizes that weight gain during menopause is especially common. Weight gain around the abdomen in particular increases a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease.
Body-composition changes that occur during this transitional period may also be linked to higher rates of major depressive disorder among women with diabetes than men with diabetes.
Women with diabetes are also more likely to experience early menopause, which may mean facing the complications of menopause, such as weight gain and osteoporosis, sooner.
Your blood sugar targets, as well as your insulin doses, may need to be reassessed as your metabolism shifts throughout perimenopause, says Thomason. Beyond blood glucose management, the biggest impact you can have on your overall quality of life will come from adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, she says.
“The more you can focus on consistent exercise (including resistance training), managing your stress levels, and eating a fiber-rich diet, the more you can mitigate the metabolic changes that come with menopause,” says Thomason.
