Blood sugar and menopause

[milonga1972]

Hi,
I'm new to this community. I am 49 years old and have been diabetic since I was 23. I am on HRT but am having real issues controlling blood sugars. I use the Omnipod DASH patch pump, which I don't love! Before that I was on an Accucheck pump for many years but it was discontinued. Does anyone have any advice about managing diabetes with the menopause please? Blood sugars are all over the place and swinging from very high to very low. Thank you.

 

[JMK1954]

I had this problem, but HRT made my life liveable again. It is possible you need a different form of HRT.
I was warned that I might have to try several forms to find what suited me best, ie. kept my blood sugar levels most stable. I just stuck with the first one I tried, because if I asked to try any other it meant having to get a GP appoinment, having to take time off work for it, waiting for the new prescription and then possibly finding that the results of the new tablets were less satisfactory than the old ones had been.

Can you contact a DSN at your hospital clinic over this ? They seem to be more knowledgeable than GPs over HRT for diabetics and may be able to get a consultant to discuss things and contact you.

 

[Hopeful34]

Welcome to the forum. Just wondering if your blood sugar problems started when you changed pump, or if it is more related to menopause? Have you done some basal testing, to check that's ok?
If you don't use Libre or Dexcom, you could ask your hospital team if you can have it prescribed. I think Libre are still doing a free trial of one sensor if you're in the uk.

 

[milonga1972]

I had this problem, but HRT made my life liveable again. It is possible you need a different form of HRT.
I was warned that I might have to try several forms to find what suited me best, ie. kept my blood sugar levels most stable. I just stuck with the first one I tried, because if I asked to try any other it meant having to get a GP appoinment, having to take time off work for it, waiting for the new prescription and then possibly finding that the results of the new tablets were less satisfactory than the old ones had been.

Can you contact a DSN at your hospital clinic over this ? They seem to be more knowledgeable than GPs over HRT for diabetics and may be able to get a consultant to discuss things and contact you.

Thank you for your helpful reply, I think I will contact both the GP and the diabetic team next week, although I have raised the menopause issue with the diabetic team before (consultant and specialist nurse) and they literally said nothing. I was a bit surprised, but maybe I need to go back and ask again. Thank you.

 

[milonga1972]

Welcome to the forum. Just wondering if your blood sugar problems started when you changed pump, or if it is more related to menopause? Have you done some basal testing, to check that's ok?
If you don't use Libre or Dexcom, you could ask your hospital team if you can have it prescribed. I think Libre are still doing a free trial of one sensor if you're in the uk.

You are absolutely right I need to do some basal testing, I always delay and delay on that one because I find it really hard to do it properly because I'm quite active and you really need to do nothing while testing don't you? I do have the Libre, on the NHS, but I find it quite misleading at times and can end up spending all day chasing those readings and trying to get them up or down, sometimes I find the finger prick option to be much more useful. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hopeful34]

The easiest basal testing to do is overnight, unless you work overnight or have caring responsibilities which keep you up. If you can start the day on a reasonable number, at least you're not chasing numbers from the beginning, which I find always helps me. If your numbers are constantly changing from very high to very low, Libre finds it hard to keep up.
I had a hard time with my diabetes during menopause, it felt like a never ending battle to keep numbers stable, so am sending hugs, and hope you can get some help.

 

[Libby66]

Hi,
I'm new to this community. I am 49 years old and have been diabetic since I was 23. I am on HRT but am having real issues controlling blood sugars. I use the Omnipod DASH patch pump, which I don't love! Before that I was on an Accucheck pump for many years but it was discontinued. Does anyone have any advice about managing diabetes with the menopause please? Blood sugars are all over the place and swinging from very high to very low. Thank you.

 

[Libby66]

Hi I'm 55 and the menopause has played havoc with my sugars too.But I'm on mdi.
I'm type 1 but my body behaves like I'm a type 2

 

[JMK1954]

I intended to convey the message that if you contact the DSNs, they are able to contact your consultant rapidly and may be able to arrange for a appointment to be brought forward, if you request it. (My GP refuses to take any action without a letter from my consultant.) All the DSNs I have come across were at least familiar with the use of HRT if glucose levels in a type 1 became erratic because of flucuating hormones, so might be helpful generally. I have never used a pump (I don't want one), but I only ever adjusted my meal-time bolus insulin to correct the crazy spikes in BS. Once on HRT, the spikes diminished in height and became fewer, but didn't disappear completely, though they were reduced to a point I could cope with. I tested at 12 mml a couple of times a week, instead of hitting 22 mmml plus every couple of days. I suspect that you are over-optimistic if you are expecting HRT to solve your problems completely.

Of course, HRT is going to do nothing for erratic glucose levels caused by any imbalance/ mistiming between meals and bolus insulin taken to cover them or basal which is wrong in timing, or doesn't suit you. . I was fortunate in that when I hit the menopause (or rather when it hit me !) my insulins were almost a perfect match for my needs. My BS levels never tested above approx.10 mml, even when I had eaten a meal at a cafe and had forgotten my insulin and had to head for home in a hurry. Think carefully about how your problem first showed itself and when. I would have been unable to get any reliable result from a basal test because of the constantly fluctuating hormone levels I was experiencing.

 

[Soplewis12]

Hi,
I'm new to this community. I am 49 years old and have been diabetic since I was 23. I am on HRT but am having real issues controlling blood sugars. I use the Omnipod DASH patch pump, which I don't love! Before that I was on an Accucheck pump for many years but it was discontinued. Does anyone have any advice about managing diabetes with the menopause please? Blood sugars are all over the place and swinging from very high to very low. Thank you.

Hiya, just searched posts for menopause and came across your post. I commenced my first pump omnipod dash in March 21 & have found it difficult with more hypos than highs. Do one basal change to another after checks. Get a few days OK then fluctuates again. I'm female & age 53 but don't know if I am full blown menopausal or not as I've not had periods for years due to marina coil. Just had agreement for oestrogen hrt patch & I am hoping it helps. I'm pretty studious with my control and do everything by the book. Was interested if anyone else found it helped?

 

[JMK1954]

Was a blood test to check hormone levels done before you were prescribed HRT ? If so, you can ask your GP what the results indicated. Does the coil make the test worthless ?

 

[Soplewis12]

Was a blood test to check hormone levels done before you were prescribed HRT ? If so, you can ask your GP what the results indicated. Does the coil make the test worthless ?

Hi, the only blood tests done were the usual diabetic checks, no hormonal blood testing. The marina coil gives out progesterone which is why only oestrogen for me. Not sure if the coil would have affected results, it's a possibility. The DSN was stooped as to the reason of the inconsistencies/fluctuations and after discussions we both felt that menopause could be the reason. Just trialling the HRT to see if it helps any. I'm hopeful that it will make a difference. Thanks

 

[Soplewis12]

Hi, the only blood tests done were the usual diabetic checks, no hormonal blood testing. The marina coil gives out progesterone which is why only oestrogen for me. Not sure if the coil would have affected results, it's a possibility. The DSN was stooped as to the reason of the inconsistencies/fluctuations and after discussions we both felt that menopause could be the reason. Just trialling the HRT to see if it helps any. I'm hopeful that it will make a difference. Thanks

Edit-stumped not stooped!

 

[JMK1954]

I guessed that. It sounds as if, for you, the HRT is going to be a case of suck it and see. I am guessing the coil does affect test results and that was the reason that they didn't check your hormone levels to establish where you stand currently. That would have been useful info.