| You might be thinking "What's the connection between | | | | the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a |
| diabetes and the menopause?"Well, for ladies reaching | | | | quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my |
| that certain age, it can be very traumatic - especially | | | | blood sugar levels up when I didn't need it. Not a good |
| when some of the effects experienced can easily be | | | | idea!It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about |
| mistaken for those we have to be aware of when | | | | these frequent, unexpected hypos I discovered I was |
| managing our diabetes...For a diabetic taking medication, | | | | starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s, so it |
| keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing | | | | was rather unexpected, normally it doesn't occur until |
| act. If sugar levels drop too low, because of not eating | | | | early-to-mid 50s).If you are a lady, with diabetes |
| enough or at the right times, you suffer a | | | | controlled by medication, and you are in your early 50s |
| hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called 'hypo' for | | | | and you start having frequent, unexplained hypos - |
| short). For me, this usually manifests itself as shaking; | | | | check your sugar levels before 'treating the condition'. |
| irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling. If you are | | | | And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You |
| diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may | | | | may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the |
| recognize some of these symptoms, amongst others. | | | | menopause.And guys; if your lady normally has great |
| A quick 'glucose fix' usually settles it within 5-10 | | | | control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be |
| minutes.Now, compare that to some of the symptoms | | | | showing the same symptoms when she was getting |
| of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them | | | | her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please |
| 'power-surges' ;)] - similar to the sweats of a hypo; | | | | be supportive and understanding, she's going through |
| mood swings - akin to the irritability you might | | | | one hell of an experience, but I promise, she will come |
| experience during a hypo. It's very easy to confuse | | | | through and be her normal, loving and charming self |
| the symptoms you are feeling.When I first started the | | | | once again. |
| menopause, I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in | | | | |