Causes (2)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Diabetic neuropathy
Complications (7)
- Dehydration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet
- see all in Complications
Lifestyle and home remedies (23)
- Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
- Diabetes nutrition: Eating out when you have diabetes
- Diabetes nutrition: Including sweets in your meal plan
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Prevention (1)
- Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control
Risk factors (1)
- Diabetes risk self-assessment
Symptoms (1)
- Diabetes symptoms: When to consult your doctor
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Blood sugar tests: Understanding your results
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
- Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: Take control today
- Intensive insulin therapy: Achieving tight blood sugar control
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Diabetes and menopause: A twin challenge
Diabetes and menopause may team up for varied effects on your body. Here's what to expect — and how to stay in control.
By Mayo Clinic staffMenopause — and the years leading up to it — may present unique challenges if you have diabetes. But it's not necessarily a one-two punch. First, learn what to expect. Then consider what to do about it.
Diabetes and menopause: What to expect
Menopause is the point in life when your periods stop. Diabetes and menopause may team up for varied effects on your body, including:
- Changes in blood sugar level. The hormones estrogen and progesterone affect how your cells respond to insulin. During menopause, changes in your hormone levels can trigger fluctuations in your blood sugar level. You may notice that your blood sugar level is more variable or less predictable than before. If your blood sugar gets out of control, you have a higher risk of diabetes complications.
- Weight gain. Some women gain weight during menopause. This can increase the need for insulin or oral diabetes medication.
- Infections. Even before menopause, high blood sugar can contribute to urinary and vaginal infections. After menopause — when a drop in estrogen makes it easier for bacteria and yeast to thrive in the urinary tract and vagina — the risk is even higher.
- Sleep problems. During menopause, hot flashes and night sweats may keep you up at night. In turn, the sleep deprivation can make it tougher to manage your blood sugar level.
- Sexual problems. Diabetes can damage the nerves of the cells that line the vagina. This can interfere with arousal and orgasm. Vaginal dryness, a common symptom of menopause, may compound the issue by causing pain during sex.
(1 of 2)
