Do periods mess up your blood sugars?

February 26, 2009 21:54

Jenny DAFNE Graduate
University Hospitals, Leicester 27 posts

Hi. I did the DAFNE course 18mths ago. Mainly after changing from twice daily injections to Basal bolus regime before trying for a baby. (Baby girl 8lb 13oz, 4 weeks early HbA1c 6. Cool I have had diabetes for 20years.

I would like to know if any other women notice differences in insulin requirements throughout the month linked to menstrual cycle? I seem to spend a couple of weeks carefully adjusting my ratios etc. due to high blood sugars only to just get them right and start getting hypos for the next couple of weeks while I carefully adjust everything again. I am sure this is linked to periods but none of my health care team seem to agree. They just give vague answers.

It is really frustrating because I can never seem to get on top of things. I find that I am constantly thinking about reasons why blood sugars are high/low. During hospital visits i am always told that I have good control but I feel like I am always one step away from getting it right.

It would be good to hear if anyone elso has the same problems.

Jenny

March 11, 2009 21:52

laura DAFNE Graduate
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 1 post

Hiya Jenny, i also experience this and i definatley think its down to time of the month!! And my Diabetes team agree with this. No week is ever the same for me!!

May 25, 2009 19:47

JennyS 7 posts

Definitely!! - if you think periods give you a hard time wait for a) pregnancy and b) menopause LOL

I've never heard a health professional deny it, though, and it's a YMMV one.

Good luck!

June 24, 2009 19:52

hazelharrison DAFNE Graduate
NHS Grampian 1 post

Hi Jenny,

I'm 8 months pregnant at the moment, but casting my mind back to when I had periods, I usually had to reduce by background insulin levels by around 10% the week before my periods were due as I was always hypo in the morning, once my periods started I had to put them back to normal dose again. All other ratios remained the same. My diabetes team agreed that female hormones were a factor and that it was not uncommon.

August 10, 2009 22:16

LizB DAFNE Graduate
South East Kent PCT 23 posts

Hi Jenny - yes!
I totally identify with what you're describing, but now the Doc has been able to see my BGs over a sustained period (no pun intended) and I have labelled each week of the cycle with Wk1, Wk2, Wk3 etc, we see the longer term patterns more clearly and are starting to unravel the code. This should mean that in future I'll be able to make changes ahead of time (like Hazel mentioned) rather than constantly re-acting to the bad results I just had!
Good luck in finding a way to tackle your own story.

February 26, 2009 21:54 Jenny DAFNE Graduate University Hospitals, Leicester 27 posts	Hi. I did the DAFNE course 18mths ago. Mainly after changing from twice daily injections to Basal bolus regime before trying for a baby. (Baby girl 8lb 13oz, 4 weeks early HbA1c 6. I have had diabetes for 20years. I would like to know if any other women notice differences in insulin requirements throughout the month linked to menstrual cycle? I seem to spend a couple of weeks carefully adjusting my ratios etc. due to high blood sugars only to just get them right and start getting hypos for the next couple of weeks while I carefully adjust everything again. I am sure this is linked to periods but none of my health care team seem to agree. They just give vague answers. It is really frustrating because I can never seem to get on top of things. I find that I am constantly thinking about reasons why blood sugars are high/low. During hospital visits i am always told that I have good control but I feel like I am always one step away from getting it right. It would be good to hear if anyone elso has the same problems. Jenny
March 11, 2009 21:52 laura DAFNE Graduate The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 1 post	Hiya Jenny, i also experience this and i definatley think its down to time of the month!! And my Diabetes team agree with this. No week is ever the same for me!!
May 25, 2009 19:47 JennyS 7 posts	Definitely!! - if you think periods give you a hard time wait for a) pregnancy and b) menopause LOL I've never heard a health professional deny it, though, and it's a YMMV one. Good luck!
June 24, 2009 19:52 hazelharrison DAFNE Graduate NHS Grampian 1 post	Hi Jenny, I'm 8 months pregnant at the moment, but casting my mind back to when I had periods, I usually had to reduce by background insulin levels by around 10% the week before my periods were due as I was always hypo in the morning, once my periods started I had to put them back to normal dose again. All other ratios remained the same. My diabetes team agreed that female hormones were a factor and that it was not uncommon.
August 10, 2009 22:16 LizB DAFNE Graduate South East Kent PCT 23 posts	Hi Jenny - yes! I totally identify with what you're describing, but now the Doc has been able to see my BGs over a sustained period (no pun intended) and I have labelled each week of the cycle with Wk1, Wk2, Wk3 etc, we see the longer term patterns more clearly and are starting to unravel the code. This should mean that in future I'll be able to make changes ahead of time (like Hazel mentioned) rather than constantly re-acting to the bad results I just had! Good luck in finding a way to tackle your own story.