Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
I can’t remember much about menopause and diabetes problems. All I remember is having extreme panic attacks. Lasted about threes months. My doctor at the time, 1992, put me on a low dose of Prozac and I was fine. Saved my life.
Wow, 20% were diagnosed with diabetes during menopause……that is truly a change of life! I was 49 years old at the time of diagnosis. I told the OB/GYN I was feeling lousy. He put me on birth control and my vision got blurry, so the hormones ran sugars high. I have been on insulin for LADA ever since. I always wonder if I would have gone through menopause naturally if I could have avoided the high sugars.
I am really not sure when menopause was for me because my doctor always told me I was perimenopausal. Then at some point I realized I hadn’t had a period in over a year. I was using an IUD that had a small amount of a hormone in it that was supposed to prevent pregnancy. I never took anything else for it. It seems strange that no one ever actually told me that I was in menopause or that it was over. Did they think I would sue them or be inconsolable? Frankly once I realized it, I was relieved.
I didn’t have a tough time going through menopause. Yes, insulin needs rebounded constantly, but at the end of it, my bgs were much easier to predict because I wasn’t dealing with hormone upheavals on a monthly basis. I was 55 years at the time.
Honestly, I don’t remember. I was on MDI and just gave myself insulin when needed. I did not run totals daily but just aimed at keeping in a good range.
That was 24 years ago. Can’t be sure if I was experiencing a very bumpy glucose roller coaster specifically because of menopause or a combination with incompetent medical care. My MD at the time had little knowledge of T1 glucose management.
I did have significantly lower sugars during the night. However I did not use a CGM at that point. My CGM and paying better attention to my T1D has made a world of difference. I have a better handle on things. (62 years w/T1D)
In perimenopause, I found I had a high spike about midway between periods when they were still regular. (Some reading suggested this might be a time my body was flushing eggs at a higher rate than usual during those years.)
I just stopped having variations in insulin requirements during the various parts of the cycle. My insulin has remained more constant after menopause, and has really remained constant my whole life except when I was pregnant.
Currently in perimenopause. Starting in late 2019 I had a sudden increase in my insulin needs overall. That then went down in 2021. I had my period in April 2021 and then nothing for 11 months but just got it again this month, March 2022 so the 1 year timer has reset. I found I needed a little more insulin while I had it this month but not a significant amount..
I can’t remember much about menopause and diabetes problems. All I remember is having extreme panic attacks. Lasted about threes months. My doctor at the time, 1992, put me on a low dose of Prozac and I was fine. Saved my life.
Wow, 20% were diagnosed with diabetes during menopause……that is truly a change of life! I was 49 years old at the time of diagnosis. I told the OB/GYN I was feeling lousy. He put me on birth control and my vision got blurry, so the hormones ran sugars high. I have been on insulin for LADA ever since. I always wonder if I would have gone through menopause naturally if I could have avoided the high sugars.
I am really not sure when menopause was for me because my doctor always told me I was perimenopausal. Then at some point I realized I hadn’t had a period in over a year. I was using an IUD that had a small amount of a hormone in it that was supposed to prevent pregnancy. I never took anything else for it. It seems strange that no one ever actually told me that I was in menopause or that it was over. Did they think I would sue them or be inconsolable? Frankly once I realized it, I was relieved.
I didn’t have a tough time going through menopause. Yes, insulin needs rebounded constantly, but at the end of it, my bgs were much easier to predict because I wasn’t dealing with hormone upheavals on a monthly basis. I was 55 years at the time.
That happened during a time when there were lots of changes in insulins and diabetic treatments. So it is impossible to tell.
Less by 1/3. I used to have a total basal of 16 units now 10 units per day
I don’t know if I did or not. I don’t recall blood sugar changes that were even discussed related to menopause with me
I was diagnosed at age 61 AFTER going through menopause.
I had a total hysterectomy 6 years ago, so instant menapause. I don’t remember any major differences in insulin needs.
I had other health issues during that time, a kidney transplant, so I didn’t notice if menopause had an impact.
Honestly, I don’t remember. I was on MDI and just gave myself insulin when needed. I did not run totals daily but just aimed at keeping in a good range.
I can’t say, since my onset in my mid-50s was related to male menopause or just being burned out by the effects of my disease.
That was 24 years ago. Can’t be sure if I was experiencing a very bumpy glucose roller coaster specifically because of menopause or a combination with incompetent medical care. My MD at the time had little knowledge of T1 glucose management.
Mine chemically induced due t breast cancer, being normal positive.
I did have significantly lower sugars during the night. However I did not use a CGM at that point. My CGM and paying better attention to my T1D has made a world of difference. I have a better handle on things. (62 years w/T1D)
“Other” because I honestly can’t remember. I had LADA from age 46 and thyroid disease after that, so there were a mess of things going on.
exactly the same! HOT mess.
I chose “other” because I didn’t noticed any correlation. I didn’t know it was something to watch for.
I don’t know one way or the other because I was not paying attention.
My basal profile has flattened out. The highest basal I used to have was double the rest of the time. If not more. Now highest is only 50% more.
It was before CGMs and drove me crazy testing and adjusting so often!
It’s a constant roller coaster.
In perimenopause, I found I had a high spike about midway between periods when they were still regular. (Some reading suggested this might be a time my body was flushing eggs at a higher rate than usual during those years.)
I just stopped having variations in insulin requirements during the various parts of the cycle. My insulin has remained more constant after menopause, and has really remained constant my whole life except when I was pregnant.
N/A
I was diagnosed after menopause!
I was diagnosed after menopause. (Age 62)
N/A. I’m male.
Currently in perimenopause. Starting in late 2019 I had a sudden increase in my insulin needs overall. That then went down in 2021. I had my period in April 2021 and then nothing for 11 months but just got it again this month, March 2022 so the 1 year timer has reset. I found I needed a little more insulin while I had it this month but not a significant amount..
I had a full hysterectomy at 43 and got to skip Menopause. I did not notice any changes in BG’s or increased insulin post surgery.