Menopause and Diabetes: Things You Must Know
How, if at all, are menopause and diabetes related? During menopause, hormonal changes in the body set off a chemical chain eventually leading to fluctuations in blood sugar level. We've been mostly focused on the symptoms surrounding menopause, bur recent studies have shown that the hormonal changes happening throughout menopause boost the risks of diabetes.
There are a number of symptoms that occur in most women who are perimenopausal or menopausal. All women will eventually experience menopause, although the symptoms they experience will vary. Weight gain and trouble sleeping are common problems, as are hot flashes and emotional ups and downs. However, since menopause and diabetes might be linked, you ought to be aware of the following information.
Many of us who are going through menopause experience restless nights. You will have higher blood sugar levels when you don't get adequate sleep. The extra pounds that are potentially put on throughout menopause could dramatically impact blood glucose concentrations too. Diabetes may result from that in its turn.
A study which spanned four years researched post-menopausal women to assess their blood flow and how well their arteries and vessels functioned. These females had examinations twice yearly which included blood work. None of the women in the study had diabetes when it began, but some developed it over the four years throughout which the study was conducted. This was proved by the reality that the blood vessels and arteries had been subjected to a considerable change in blood flow.
Researchers cannot say with certainty that cell dysfunction is the root cause of diabetes in menopausal women, or if it is a result of having diabetes in the first place, even though the results may have shown a direct link. The argument that diabetes caused the cell dysfunction does not apply because none of the women in the study had diabetes when it started. Instead, researchers are inclined to believe that dysfunction in cells lining blood vessels may lead toward diabetes.
Preliminary scientific evidence suggests that menopause and diabetes are linked, however there have been no conclusive findings so far. Have your blood sugar checked twice a year to determine if you may be developing early signs of diabetes. Contact your health care provider if any diabetic symptoms are present, while maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program.