Hormones do more than regulate reproductive health. They also significantly influence how your body uses insulin and manages blood sugar. Whether you’re menstruating, going through menopause, or living with diabetes, understanding how hormonal shifts affect glucose can help you manage your health.
Menstrual Cycle: A Monthly Shift in Blood Sugar
The menstrual cycle typically lasts around 28 days and is divided into two main phases: the follicular phase (before ovulation) and the luteal phase (after ovulation). Hormone levels fluctuate throughout this cycle, causing a dynamic shift in blood sugar levels as well.
- Follicular Phase (Days 1-14):
- The hormone estrogen rises, and this makes the body more sensitive to insulin. Many people living with diabetes report better blood sugar levels and a lower need for insulin at this time.
- Luteal Phase (Days 15-28):
- The hormone progesterone rises, and this makes the body less sensitive to insulin. Blood sugar levels may run higher, and insulin needs can increase.
Menopause and Blood Sugar: A New Normal
Menopause is defined by the cessation of periods for 12 months. At this time, estrogen levels fall and the body may become less sensitive to insulin. At the same time, fat can build up deep in the belly, around organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines. This can make them less sensitive to insulin and more prone to inflammation. It may also increase the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Adapting Your Diabetes Care Through Menstrual and Menopause Transitions
Although hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, and right before and after menopause can affect blood sugar levels, there is a lot that can be done to manage this. Everyone responds differently, so if you menstruate, tracking your cycle and symptoms can help spot patterns in glucose levels. If you are in menopause focusing on other things that affect sugar levels may help. This might mean adjusting meals, physical activity, or medications.
About the author
Ali Abdalbari
Ali Abdalbari is a graduate research trainee at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute focused on the intersection of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. He is passionate about translating scientific discoveries into meaningful clinical insights for novel diabetes management and treatment avenues and is actively engaged in metabolic disease research.