Type 1, Menopause & HRT

[CharlotteAT]

Hello - not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but.....I am a 52 female with Type 1 for the last 48 years, and have been incredibly lucky not to have any significant complications to date!
However, the menopause is upon me! And it's affecting my blood sugar control, as well as making me horrid to live with, short tempered and exhausted much of the time...I was a dream to live with before!!
Anyway, I would be interested in hearing from anyone (sorry boys) who is Type 1 and has taken HRT.....I'm very confused as to whether this is a sensible option or not....many thanks in advance

 

[hodders]

Hello - not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but.....I am a 52 female with Type 1 for the last 48 years, and have been incredibly lucky not to have any significant complications to date!
However, the menopause is upon me! And it's affecting my blood sugar control, as well as making me horrid to live with, short tempered and exhausted much of the time...I was a dream to live with before!!
Anyway, I would be interested in hearing from anyone (sorry boys) who is Type 1 and has taken HRT.....I'm very confused as to whether this is a sensible option or not....many thanks in advance

Hi
I am type 1 and use hrt patches. I tried hrt tablets initially, the cheaper option I suppose. I am now on my 3rd variety of patches and they suit me.
I suppose you have to consider whether you can manage your menopause symptoms as many do without intervention I was just losing so much sleep with the night sweats I could barely function at work apart from managing type 1 as well. It took me getting sorted hrtwise to discern some hypos too from the menopause melt down. I think like type 1 hrt is trial and error too. You need to find what suits you. The advantage of patches is that you can cut them up. I now only use two thirds of a patch as I have been on hrt for nearly five years now.
Good luck.

 

[CharlotteAT]

Thanks so much for your reply.....I think you're right with the "trial and error", and I am finding the completely restless nights exhausting, plus my Hba1c has gone up over 8% (first time since I was last pregnant 21 years ago!) so I need to get that sorted too.
There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of research relating to Type 1 and the use of HRT, so I feel it's all a bit of the unknown.
Thank you for your reassurance.

 

[hodders]

I agree there is little information out there. As we know everything and anything affects blood sugar. I just assumed that increased blood sugars were a combination of whacky hormones and sheer exhaustion. In hindsight probably the lack of sleep raised my levels more. Possibly once on hrt and you begin to feel more on an even keel your hba1c will come down too. Mine did.
Take care.

 

[JMK1954]

I had a really frightening time when the menopause hit. I ate my usual lunch at work, BS sitting at 4 point something before lunch. Then I got a hot drink from the kitchen and got back to work when the clock said I should. About an hour or so later, I felt really odd and began to feel thirsty. My BS was suddenly reading 22 mml ! I was shocked. I took extra insulin and told my manager that I thought I must have an infection and needed to go home. Before my evening meal I was hypo.

I have posted about HRT before. Not every female type 1 is affected by crazy swings in blood glucose as I was. My GP suggested absolutely nothing, just expressed concern. I only got HRT prescribed when I went to my hospital clinic about three months later. The only valid reason for refusing to prescribe it is if the woman in question has high blood pressure, as far as I know. GPs seem not to know anything about using it to control crazy BS fluctuations. My consultant told me that by using HRT I was avoiding damage from high glucose levels. I was also told that after about two years, BS levels stabilise again in a female type 1 affected in this way. In my case, this proved to be true. My GP couldn't understand why I was being advised to stop the HRT either.

I had tablets not patches and they worked. I stopped them after about two and a half years. All this happened fourteen years ago. I reckon you will be wasting your time going to a GP over this. You need to get an appointment with a consultant. Do you attend a hospital clinic ? They are the people you need.

 

[CharlotteAT]

Thanks for your message - so kind.
Yes I attend my local hospital clinic, but I don't have an appointment until May, so I think I might request an earlier appointment, or ask to see one of the Specialist Nurses.
Some days I feel as though I'm going hypo, but then my BS is 14????
Other days I'm so irritable I don't know what to do with myself!!
I shall get an earlier appointment - I have a good rapport with my consultant - I've been seeing her for long enough!!
Thank you again

 

[kitedoc]

I am amazed that GPs are not better trained about menopause. It is part of their bailiwick, and only if a person's case is very complicated would a specialist referral be required, the referrals that take weeks/months to get appointments.
What is happening to health professional education these days?? Ladies deserve better treatment and understanding.
GPs are supposed to demonstrate they are keeping up to date to stay registered are they not?
Just my male AUD 11 cents worth (10 cents plus GST)!
Bets Wishes for appropriate treatment and ways to keep BSLs better controlled.

 

[Dodo]

Hello - not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but.....I am a 52 female with Type 1 for the last 48 years, and have been incredibly lucky not to have any significant complications to date!
However, the menopause is upon me! And it's affecting my blood sugar control, as well as making me horrid to live with, short tempered and exhausted much of the time...I was a dream to live with before!!
Anyway, I would be interested in hearing from anyone (sorry boys) who is Type 1 and has taken HRT.....I'm very confused as to whether this is a sensible option or not....many thanks in advance

I took HRT for a number of years without any affect on my diabetes. I didn’t have many menopausal problems, just the hot flushes, but when you wake up 3 or 4 times a night with a hot flush and have to check your blood in case of it being a hypo, it gets really tiring. My doctor understood and sympathised, therefore I had no problem getting or taking HRT.