Reducing the Discomforts of Peri-Menopause

Here are some suggestions that may reduce the discomforts of peri-menopause:

Physical activity can help increase your energy levels and deal with the discomforts of menopause.

	Eating well-balanced meals that form the basis of managing your diabetes may also play a role in helping you to feel better at this time.
	Cutting out alcohol and caffeine may help reduce hot flashes.
	Consuming more legumes (beans, chickpeas etc) and soy products may also decrease the discomforts associated with menopause as these foods contain phytoestrogens (plant estrogens).
	Being physically active may help to increase energy levels and give you a mental lift.

There has been an increasing interest in recent years in complementary therapies to reduce the discomforts associated with this time and many women have found that certain vitamins and herbal products are helpful. However, the effects of many preparations on diabetes management are unknown.

Confusing Menopause and Blood Glucose Changes

Sometimes women with diabetes, especially those recently diagnosed, may confuse the signs of menopause with some of the symptoms of low or high blood glucose. For example, if you are occasionally dizzy, sweating, find it hard to concentrate, are unusually irritable, is this due to hormonal changes, high or low blood glucose? If you are waking up in the night, hot and sweaty, is this menopause or low blood glucose? The only way to know for sure is to test your blood glucose. If you have type 2 diabetes and are not taking insulin, night sweats are unlikely to be a result of low blood glucose. Fatigue can be associated with menopause and with high blood glucose levels. Again, testing your blood glucose is the safest step to take. However, it is not conducive to emotional well-being to be testing your blood glucose every hour and wondering about your symptoms, so a balanced approach is important. Your doctor or diabetes educator will be able to help you decide how often you may need to test by looking at your blood test records or A1C results.

For more detailed information on menopause and diabetes, order our booklet Diabetes, Menopause and Beyond. Click here to order this book.

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