Ladies...do any of you know WHY?

[grace girl]

Why is it that the b/s drops so, and so easily when you start your period? I know it happens, I know I'm not the only one, I'm not complaining about it or even asking for help dealing with it.
I just want to know what causes this to happen? I asked my endo about this at my last visit and she told me that "high b/s prior to starting and lower b/s when and after starting hasn't been properly documented therefor there is no relevant information or science to determine that it acutally happens."
Whatever.
All I know is that I woke up at 80 this morning ONLY because I had sense enough to go to sleep at 280...I knew it would drop, it always does. And eating doesn't affect it at all. I've had a 80 point drop and a 90 point drop today, and I've cut my humalog WAY back. But it will return to normal tomorrow.

But what causes this???

[cheryl]

I don't know but I got my period yesterday and I have been either good or low today.....really weird this month, maybe your metabolism speeds up when you first get your period, or your hormones get so wacky your liver doesn't produce as much glucose as it normally does to keep you in your homeostatic balance, whatever the case.....we all know our diabetes gets affected from our periods, I hate when the medical proffesion states such bull **** LOL.....

Cheryl

[gettingby]

I can't explain it either Holly but it happens to me. I fight lows constantly the first 2 days of my period but then I'm pretty much running normal numbers the other 3 days.:confused: So, you aren't alone.

[valc3]

I guess I have to be the odd one. I have lows for a week prior. Then when I start, I'm normal.

[notme]

Nope val3c, I followed the exact same routine. We can be odd together.

[duck]

Ahem. Excuse me? I have a question: Have any of you had a shot of liquor before bed, or know what the effects of alcohol are on your blood sugar levels? Whenever I read any thread like this, my first thought is either "Liver Dump" (or lack, thereof) or "hormones". Now, if it is a dump, or lack thereof because of the period, my thinking is the only way to simulate such a thing is typically drugs or alcohol...and obviously, alcohol is easier to get (and sometimes more fun).

[grace girl]

Ahem. Excuse me? I have a question: Have any of you had a shot of liquor before bed, or know what the effects of alcohol are on your blood sugar levels? Whenever I read any thread like this, my first thought is either "Liver Dump" (or lack, thereof) or "hormones". Now, if it is a dump, or lack thereof because of the period, my thinking is the only way to simulate such a thing is typically drugs or alcohol...and obviously, alcohol is easier to get (and sometimes more fun).

Considering how I feel at the moment, knocking one back later tonight doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'll be the guniea pig!

[gettingby]

Personally, I've given up trying to figure it out. I just deal with it and patiently (NOT) wait for menopause (sorry if that's TMI). :)

[JaxTerri]

I've not noticed a different yet but should be able to tell you in the next week or so :o

[Emm]

I don't know why either. I've had it explained to me that periods involve hormones, and all hormones like to party together (!!??) Thus when one is out of whack the others often follow suit.

Real scientific explanation, eh?

Whatever the cause, it pee's me off! I'm high for a few days and I can never figure out why until I get the sudden drop, then I'm struggling to keep my numbers up for a day or two. I can always see why in hindsight of course, but I don't pick it at the time!

I've never had a 'normal' cycle since my D diagnosis (Early menopause - which makes it sooo much more fun, hah!) so I'll probably never be able to predict it. I have noticed tho, that even when I'm not having normal cycles I still have some 'phantom' stuff that goes along with my non-cycle. If ya know what I mean! So the BGs can still go wonky if I'm going months without a period.

[jen_slc]

I don't know either, but it surely happens to me too. Here's my guess tho: it's likely to do with the different levels of all the hormones, progesterone specifically.

In the two weeks before your period, your progesterone levels increase and remain high until a few days before your period. Then it starts coming down, and by the time your period hits, progesterone is running pretty low...it's actually at its lowest point during your period. I think the high level of progesterone in those 1-2 weeks leading up to your period is responsible for some increased insulin resistance (or decreased insulin sensitivity), and once your start bleeding, it means your progesterone has hit the bottom and you become much more insulin sensitive again... maybe your body has to readjust to this every month. :dontknow:

[grace girl]

I've been tracking this whole thing for myself pretty seriously for the past year and one interesting thing I've noticed is that if I start early in the day I will drop considerably that night.
The later in the day I start, the smaller the drop.
I've wondered if it's the hormone release, or if something else is being kicked off in the body at that time.
Having been dx'ed at age 32 I find it amazing that I went so many years without really knowing how many strange things were occuring in my body without my knowledge!

[ladytaz]

So far I haven't noticed anything different with mine. Though, about 4 or 5 years ago I began the menopause process. I don't ever know when it will come. I skip months. In the past 4 or 5 years I get about 6 to 8 a year. Sometimes heavy, sometimes light. Never know. No rhyme or reason to it. Now, if it would just stop all together, I'd be one happy camper! LOL

For the those of you who do experience BG changes, my guess would be it's related to hormones.

[LancetChick]

Hormones make me very insulin resistant, and I have to use a lot more insulin in the days leading up to my period. Once it hits, I'm back to normal. I've never known hormones to make me go lower than normal, but considering that stress hormones can make some people go high and some low, it stands to reason that female hormones would do that as well.

[cheryl]

Has any of you ever looked at what you eat, to see if you had not eaten certain foods 2 weeks to the time of your period, that it is different blood sugar wise then the month before and vice versa............I actually was craving a ton of eggs a week ago, and I never got a rise from pms, I ate tons of fatty foods this month.....tons.....and I am not on a rise, last month I was eating very low fat and I had the most horrible experience.....I wonder if there is a correlation between the two......I dunno.....I might eat some fat and dairy a week or so before my period again, because it has been so nice this month no rise at alll, just a tiny little 140 two hours before my period came and that was it.....

Oh I just thought of something else for the past two weeks I have been eating apples, I haven't had apples in a while cause all the other fruit is on sale right now or was, because of summer, so I was enjoying all the other fruit saving apples for the winter.......I wonder if it was the apples, cause I would buy one at work almost everyday I was working......I am thinking of what I have done differently this month and that is all I can come up with besides my egg diet last week lol.....and the few nights I ate more fattening meals is the only difference....oh and more granola bars too...

Cheryl

[Kubilee]

I just had the same problem the past week. My BS would be 60-70 on waking up and stay low most of the day the first three days and then the last 3-4 it was right at 80-85 consistantly. My normal is between 90-110.

I was reading on the internet and found this article to be quite helpful:
Reproductive Health: Menstruation and Diabetes (http://www.epigee.org/diabetes_period.html)

Maybe it might help you all here. I am Type II, but it talks about both. ;)