questions for the ladies hormones etc

[pumppimp]

Hi there,
I've come back to forums to help me get some exta info on my own condition as I'm between doctors and clinics I've not got anyone to bounce ideas off so I thought I would ask around. I'm 26 had type 1 for 14 years and been on a pump for 6. About 3 years ago I also discovered I had polycystic ovaries and whilst getting scanned for this found that I had a womb duplication with 4 ovaries in total. (I'm getting complicated I know) I've always struggled to control the swings in my sugars and am now starting to put some reasons behind why I'm like how I am. Overall if you compared me to someone else with T1 I would say I'm in quite good shape but I want to get a better handle on things. What I would like to know is anyone else T1 and struggling with hormone swings and blood sugar levels. I was diagnosed just after I started my period but I also had about 3 bad flus in a row as well so they could all be linked. I've never had a normal period but this until recently was always put down to my poor control, when I managed to get good control I was ignored by my consultant I think he was embarrassed talking about womens hormones even though he specialises in hormones. My diagnoses was only picked up after several tests at the sexual health clinic where I had gone to get on the pill. I've tried several combinations of different pills and implants etc but none of them helped they all made my bg swing more as well as all the other bad side effects. thankfully I got married to a lovely man and as i couldn't have children and we were going to adopt he decided he would get a vesectomy, to save me from all the side effects. It is much better off all the hormone suppliments but I still suffer quite a bit from swings i believe that are induced by my hormone fluctuations. Does anyone else notice changes to their bg before during and after their period? or does anyone notice any other patterns connected to hormone fluctuations that they may have? It's easier for me to test this theory on other people as noone I've met has periods and hormones like mine. (currently on my period for 7 weeks before that diddn't have one for 6 months) Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Laura

 

[jopar]

Only part of your medical condition do I understand,

Yes hormones will impact on your control, any fluctuation will effect, Stress, pain etc all causes a hormone response that we react do... Menstrual hormones changes through the menstrual cycle will effect control, in your case how your hormones fluctuate during extended period of bleeding is difficult to know..

About the only thing I can suggest really looking at your data, seeing if any patterns emerge over the length of time a period might last, are they consistent or is there any changes in insulin that associates itself, on days that bleeding gets lighter/heavier etc... which could indicate hormone balance shift.

 

[Elc1112]

Hi Laura,

I'm type 1 and also have PCOS. My periods have always been irregular but the doctors have never said that they believe this to be linked to my diabetes. Like you, I go months and months with nothing and then get 3-4 weeks worth of period in one. My worst was a five month long period - it was light the entire time but doesn't half put a dampner on the old sex life.

Although I've never found anything that can put this right completely, I did find that losing some weight helped a little. I'd tried multiple pills and nothing really suited me. I seem to go through phased of normality where I get x months of normal periods and then it all goes to pot again!

I've seen the doctors a few times but never really managed to get anywhere. Normally told just to deal with it, which isn't particularly helpful!

As for my blood sugars, mine do seem to fluctuate more around my time of month. Not massively, but they can be a little more unpredictable. Ain't being a woman fun sometimes?!

Sorry, I realise this post isn't particularly helpful to you, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone!

Em x

 

[pumppimp]

Thanks for the comments and support, was trying to find out if other people have any patterns that they recognise with their periods and blood sugars. Do you go higher just before you start and then have a low lag after you finish, or don't notice a change at all or high at all points through the cycle. etc. I know that it's all interlinked it's just sometimes not clear to me when I'm ovulating or having a period so if other people had patterns I might be able to look at those in myself and do a bit of trial and error with my basal at different points through the year. Thanks for your help, hope i'm not being too confusing.

 

[Elc1112]

My sugars just seem a bit more erratic around my period - not Higgins some days and low on others, just a bit more difficult to control. I've tried to spot patterns but it just seems a bit irrational (a bit like my moods lol). I guess I'm a bit more sensitive to carbs around y period but that's about the only pattern I have noticed. Em

 

[pickle76]

Hi there,

I don't have PCOS but did notice fluctuations with my cycle. I found I often had a hypo around the day I ovulated, then my blood sugars would rise until I got my period (I'm also on a pump, so used a temp basal rate or whole other 'profile' to combat this.). Once my period arrived my blood sugars would plummet for a few days then level out again. I found it really helpful to keep a results/monitoring diary with the day of my cycle at the top of each page, so I could compare with the following and previous months. And obviously testing frequently. It must be hard for you though with irregular and long cycles. I hope you can see some patterns and gain a bit more stability.

Jo

 

[Riri]

Yes definitely affects me. For about 5 days before my period my sugars are elevated - quite a bit a really. Normally have to put a temp basal on of around. 140% during the day over this time. Funnily the nights are not affected. Then abut 2 days after period starts sugars start to level back down. I've tried to work out a pattern to set up a new basal profile but its too unpredictable :wink:

 

[Indy51]

Are you/have you ever been on metformin for the PCOS/insulin resistance as well as the insulin for your T1?

My great niece has PCOS and she says she has a much easier time of things when her weight is under control. She also said metformin and carb control seem to be the standard treatment for it these days.

 

[pumppimp]

Hi Guys,
Thanks very much for all the helpful replies, I think for me mine goes higher a week before I start unil 4 days in or so then will go back to normal then through a low patch I think. It gets really hard to tell because most of the time it can be all over the place as I don't really have a cycle to speak of. I'm getting referred back to the gynae team to check for endometriosis on top of everything else so hopefully they can give me a heads up with my blood sugars as well.
Thanks for all of the help,
Laura

 

[finntasticemma]

I am also type 1 with PCOS and my sugars go a bit crazy around my period. Tend to be high a day or two before I start and then go very low and high again as my period finishes. I think I would be able to cope with this better if I had a more regular pattern but 1 1/2 weeks on and 2 weeks off is no fun .
Hope you find the answers you are looking for, just remember you are not alone ( not that that makes things any easier!)
X

 

[Sara Renshaw]

Hi
I struggled for years, tried different contraception pills, injection etc. sugars went low days before & really high during.
Had a coil fitted 5 years ago. Best think ever done! No periods for whole 5 years, releases little hormone and no mood swings. (Well other than just being generally grumpy lol).
Just has it removed because now I'm on pump hoping to get in top of sugars so we can start a family.
I even recommended coil to my sister who isn't diabetic & she loves it to!
Hope that helps someone else )
Ps Merina coil (modern plastic option,not old copper one!)

 

[Riesenburg]

HI Laura,

Can't comment much on a practical side (seeing as I am a chap!) but I have been studying hormones and do know that estrogens will effect your diabetes a lot. That is one of the main reasons they usually prescribe a mild contraceptive pill to help smooth out the bouncing sugar levels if need be.

In your case things are probably exasperated even more by the hormonal imbalances. Also remember that the ovaries will produce some testosterone, which will effect your insulin resistance. If you produce more than normal you will become less resistant to your insulins which will lower your sugars more than usual. The levels are tiny when compared to those of us chaps but women are way WAY more sensitive to smaller changes than we are. Your estrogens will do the opposite, hence the jojo effect you might be experiencing.

I would suggest seeing an endocrinologist and discussing things over with him/her. This is way way beyond the scope of a GP or a diabetic nurse hence why they probably didn't want to discuss it.

Frankie

 

[pumppimp]

Hi Frankie,
Thanks for the reply I did try and ask my consultant endochronologist about it but was fobbed off and told just to go to the family planning clinic and get an implant, when I went there I found out about my PCOS and double everything. My gynaecologist tried consulting my endochronologist for advice but was told do whatever you want, after years of trying every contraceptive under the sun the best remedie was no medication and trying to work out different patterns I think metformin may help but my gynaecologist won't prescribe it as it should be my endochronologist and he won't because I'm on a pump and shouldn't need metformin on a pump and also according to him my hormone levels shouldn't effect my levels very much, he also refuses to fund my pump so am waiting for funding to run out from my previous PCT. I would never really talk about my diabetes with my GP as I've never really found one with half a clue but then my consultant in my opinion shouldn't be practising medicine so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place with no chance of going to a different clinic. Next step is to maybe move back to England as my husbands family would like us to be a bit closer.

Thanks everyone for all your replies they have been really helpful in trying to understand my own patterns also it's nice to know you're not alone.
Big hugs Laura

 

[Delphinum]

Hi,
I also have type 1 and PCOS. I was on metformin for it but it stopped me having hypo signs so was taken off again. It was terrifying being at 1.8 and not even feeling it. :?
I get highs a lot when my period is due then it goes back to normal, but I've not had one since September so it's hard to tell what's going on with that side of things. Maybe it's just me but I feel like I have 'phantom' periods where I get stomach cramps, bloating, high sugar and then no period and back to normal. I'm on the mini pill as my doctor didn't want to put me on the coil and since I'm being treated for depression, I didn't want other contraception making me more depressed and moody. I still think the mini pill is affecting my mood so I'm thinking of going back to the doctor.
I did find weight loss helped a lot with my pcos though and in turn that helped with my insulin absorption so I felt my sugars were better.
Good luck with getting the help you need, whether it's metformin or not.