Facts you should know about Diabetes and Menstrual Cycle

Typically, a menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days with a normal range of 21 to 35 days. During this phase, hormonal fluctuations prompt ovulation followed by menstruation. Women with diabetes can face menstrual challenges due to these complex hormonal interactions.

Various stages of your menstrual cycle can affect your blood sugar levels differently. These effects can vary every month from one person to another. Many women experience higher blood glucose while some notice a drastic fall in their sugar levels a few days before their period starts.

Here are four facts you need to know about diabetes and periods –

• Blood glucose levels can be hard to control on certain days of the month

You may find it difficult to control your blood glucose levels, as you get closer to your period date due to the hormonal changes. Roughly, ovulation occurs halfway through the menstrual cycle when the level of progesterone hormone increases. Studies show that progesterone is linked with high insulin resistance, which results in a spike in the blood sugar.

• Hormonal contraception increases insulin resistance

Hormonal contraceptive methods containing progesterone alone or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone hormones can increase your body’s insulin resistance, making it difficult to control blood glucose. Generally, these methods can be used if you have diabetes. However, it is important to understand that using hormonal contraceptives can alter your glycemic control. Therefore, you need to monitor your blood glucose when changing or starting these methods.

• Diabetes can delay your menstruation and prompt early menopause

Women with diabetes are likely to experience a relatively shorter span of reproductive years and irregular menstruation as compared to those without the condition. Studies claim that over one-third of teenagers living with Type 1 diabetes will have irregular periods.

• Excess weight gain can disrupt your menstrual cycle

Being obese or overweight is a major risk factor for diabetes. For diabetes patients, particularly those with Type 2 diabetes, weight loss can be challenging. Unlike Type 1 diabetes where the body is unable to produce enough insulin, Type 2 diabetes causes your body to become insulin resistant. When you gain excess weight, the adipose tissues produce hormones that increase your insulin resistance. This prompts the pancreas to make more insulin, which in turn, interact with the hormones controlling your menstrual cycle. An interruption or delay in the cyclic hormonal fluctuations prevents ovulation and regular menstruation. Thus, the more weight you gain, the less frequently you will ovulate, and the more irregular periods you will experience.

If you have diabetes, you might have to change your diet and make some healthy lifestyle changes to manage your blood glucose levels. Besides, healthy eating during your menstrual cycle may also ease monthly discomfort. Make sure you keep a track of your blood sugar levels around the time of your periods.