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Can the contraceptive pill affect glucose numbers?

Kiryn83

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi, I was diagnosed in September 2016. I was put on a mix insulin for a couple of months. Then I decided to change to basal / bolus, I am now using novorapid and lantus.

My contraception pill is for 21 days, then I have a seven day period break. My problem is everyday my insulin requirements change. I can go from using 9 units of lantus up to 12 units and novorapid 0.5 units per 10g carbs up to 2 units per 10g carbs.

Is plays havoc with my numbers and I am finding it so difficult to manage. I am waiting on a specialist to arrange a appointment to see what other options there are for me. Fingers crossed.

Has anyone else experienced this?
 
Hi @Kiryn83 Welcome to the forum Hormones do affect your insulin requirements so it's not unusual your insulin doses will change during the month, however I know from experience that a week before I am due on my requirements increase by about 20%. Just something else us ladies need to take into consideration each month.
 

I found the pill affected my sugars and meant I needed more insulin.

Having said that, if you're only recently diagnosed, it might be the honeymoon period when erratic sugars are common as your body occasionally makes some of its own insulin.
 
I don't think that the OC pills affect your BS much if at all.
 
TheBigNewt said:
I don't think that the OC pills affect your BS much if at all.
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You are wrong. It does. Quite substantially, in fact. That you are are doctor and making factually incorrect comments like this worries me - not only because people are much more likely to trust what you say, but also because you made that comment without doing the any research.
 

Yup, I also experienced a substantial increase in insulin requirements when taking the pill - and that's on top of the fluctuating requirements that occur during the monthly cycle. And for you, also on top of being recently diagnosed and in the 'honeymoon' period.

The Copper coil is your only non-hormonal contraceptive option - your insulin requirements would likely come down overall, but I would guess that you would still experience fluctuations over your monthly cycle (I did).

It's all a complete pain, and I totally feel for you.

Best of luck with it all - happy to answer any other questions if I can!
 
TheBigNewt said:
I don't think that the OC pills affect your BS much if at all.
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I'm presuming you haven't tried them? They do affect BS - surprisingly so.

When I took them, my BS woukd shoot up to 13 and stay between 10 and 13 for ages, which is totally unlike normal. I had to put my basal up to deal with that. When I stopped the Pill, I then put my basal back down.
 
Then why the hell did your doctor prescribe them if they knew it would mess up your control? There are different types of pills too, some have both estrogen and progestin, and some just have progestin. Just go with an IUD, that can't raise your BS.
 
TheBigNewt said:
Then why the hell did your doctor prescribe them if they knew it would mess up your control? There are different types of pills too, some have both estrogen and progestin, and some just have progestin. Just go with an IUD, that can't raise your BS.
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They were prescribed for a specific reason. The mini pill (just progesterone) wouldn't have been suitable.

Once I realised it was the Pill, I was able to adjust my basal, which solved the highs.

I'm sure some ladies are fine, but hormonal treatments can and do affect BS in many women.
 
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