I have had diabetes for 25 years and for most of that time things were fairly stable. I have been going through menopause the past few years and suddenly everything has changed. It's a lot harder to maintain good control. I find that my insulin requirements have gone up considerably. Plus complications have started to make themselves known. Maybe the complications are the result of dealing with the condition for so long. Anyway, I'd like to ask other mature women out there. When you went through menopause, did it seem like everything changed?
OMG yes!!! It seemed to takeforever to get through it but after it finally got over I started coming back down abit on my insulin needs. I think that after 30+ years of being a diabetic things seem to have their own way of working on us.
Hi Cinderfella....I didn't develop LADA until 50 so I have pretty much dealt with menopause and diabetes together. Absolutely, hormone fluctuations effect insulin needs so I like to say it has been like Mr Toad's Wild Ride. I just know if my #'s are higher than they should be for a few days that I should adjust my basal accordingly. When I start to experience lows for seemingly no reason, I go back to my normal basal rates. When you combine those blood sugar variations with those that just seem to come for no reason, it can be quite the adventure, eh? Good luck to you.
YES! DX @ age 14 in 1974. It was gradual and difficult to figure out, but A1c was difficult to keep in range. I also think it is ironic that this is prob an unresearched topic because it hasn't been until recently that very many T1 (dx in youth) have lived long enough to reach menopause. I couldn't find much on the topic.
All I remember is that I couldn't tell the difference between a hot flash and a low. So I went on hormones to reduce hot flashes. Then, after a couple of years, I went off the hormones, and the hot flashes were gone (but, unfortunately, the lows weren't, LOL!).
I guess it must be like menarche in reverse. Unreliable hormones making unreliable BG patterns. And I guess you just have to get through it. If you can, test more often, and do what you need to. It won't last forever! :-)
Yes it was very challenging for me when I went through "the change". Hormones are difficult to deal with. But there is hope! Now that surging hornomes are a thing of the past, my blood sugar is far more stable on a day-to-day basis. So look for that light at the end of the tunnel. However if you're talking about complications, that's another story. Time is not our friend. But I think it's important to count our blessings.
Hi Cinderfella, ditto everything you said in your post! I have been type I for just over 25 years and most of that time things were stable for me too. About 6 months ago I started having hot flashes along with other symptoms.
I'm on MDI and my Lantus dose has been cut back in half since this started due to recurring severe lows. The lows are no longer a problem but now I'm having trouble bringing down the high numbers. It's so frustrating. I also think I have the beginning of some problems that I've read can be triggered by menopause in non-diabetics so I'm sure the diabetes and menopause together are a nasty combination. I feel like my poor body is getting pretty beat up right now despite my best efforts and it all started when I started skipping periods.
I have also tried to find research on Type I and menopause and have been unable to find anything at all.
I'm going to ask my endo at my next appointment in a few weeks about hormone therapy for the sake of controlling blood sugar. I know the risks of hormone therapy and my endo has said that he doesn't want me to take them unless it becomes a quality of life issue. I can deal with the menopause symptoms but the risks associated with out of control blood sugar are quite real too and honestly scare me more.
Does anyone have an opinion on the risks associated with taking hormones vs the risks associated with not taking hormones but dealing with fluctuating blood sugar?
There is a big difference between taking hormones for a short time, and taking them for the rest of your life. The dangers of hormones are from long-term use. I used hormones for a total of 4 years (see my post above), which got me through the worst of it, and don't have any problems ten years later. Of course, I take care of myself gynecologically -- mammos and paps, and paying attention to my body. But if you're having a rough time with menopause, I wouldn't categorically reject them.
As far as BGs, they probably will settle down once you're postmenopausal, but it may be at a new normal for you. And of course, YMMV.
Hey Smileandnod Talking about those skipped periods....................Tje 1st time I skipped for a few months sent me to the gyno b/c I thought "OH no not now. I'm too old to have another child" LOL! I was kinda thankful to hear it was menapause going on and not that I was going to have a baby at 40 something! LOL!
Doris this made me chuckle! I haven't admitted to anyone other than hubby (until here and now) that yes I actually bought and took a home pregnancy test when I skipped the first time... at the age of 50! Hubby thought I was nuts but peace of mind what can I say? I actually didn't start having bad symptoms until after I skipped about 4 in a row though.
I agree with you Natalie. I stay on top of my preventive visits too. I'm not really sure why my endo is opposed to even short term use but I intend to chat with him about it. He did say that if I went that route, he would want me to only do a max of 2 years and then come off.
Did you have trouble finding the right dosage of hormones? I've read that some women feel worse before they feel better in trying to find the right dose. I'm not sure I want to add another balancing act either - balancing hormones and balancing insulin.
Getting older is not for sissies, especially with diabetes, that's for sure.
U to? I did the samething all the while my husband was shaking his head! LOL! I kinda kept that quite myself til now! LOL! I wasted the money goingto the gyno b/c I was SURE the EPT was wrong! LOL!
Hello Cinderfella,
Yes, yes and yes....I am 54 now, with 33 years as a type 1. Menopause was an awful time for my blood sugar, mood, sleep...
My blood sugars got better from taking miconized hormones from a compound pharmacy - women's international pharmacy online via a Dr. prescription - estrogen and progesterone drops. I still take a smaller dose after almost 2 years of being menopausal. I still deal with some mood swings and blood sugar increases. I also have some new symptoms popping up....vitiligo, plantar fasciatis - tight foot muscles causing pain, greater need for exercise. I have a few good articles on my own blog: www.diabeticlizblog.com It is a new blog - can I add your question to my blog? Email me if you have any other questions. What new complications are showing up for you?
Hi, Liz. Feel free to post my question on your blog. The complications I speak of are numbness and tingling in feet and legs and eye problems. Both of these things crept up together, right around the time of menopause. I don't know if it is just coincidence and that the complications were going to happen anyway as a result of having diabetes for so long. I just know that a lot hit me all at once and I can't help but think that the hormones of youth were probably helping other parts of me to "stay together" too, so to speak. It seems like now that the resilience is gone, the disease is really doing some damage. Just wondered if anyone else found that to be the case.
Well, when I started on hormones, it was before the studies came out about them increasing risk of cancer and heart disease. (1991) Those studies are probably the reason your doc is reluctant to prescribe them.
I didn't have problems with dosage, but everyone is different. Seems like the smallest dosage that relieves your symptoms would be best, no? And definitely for the shortest time possible.
Good luck!