For the other girls here: hormones and diabetes

[Tokyo Cate]

I had an endo visit yesterday and told her that I had started carb counting and showed her my results and my ratios. She then told me something that most of you may already know (and I should have known given that I have been wrestling with control now for 15 years), but . . . maybe it will be interesting to some of you.

She drew a line graph representing body temperature for women throughout the month, indicating that it rises by 2-3 degrees Celsius at ovulation and stays elevated until the start of the period as a result of hormonal changes. She said that at the same time, insulin resistance increases and I should adjust my ratios to reflect that; at the start of the period, insulin sensitivity increases immediately and I should return to my usual ratios.

Huh. How could I have lived so long and not known that? Looking at my results, I can see that trend and did know that I ran a bit higher before the start of my period, but I guess I never connected it. If I improve my control for that one week out of each month, that should have a significant impact on my A1C.

[HelenM]

I'd sort of guessed that. Before I was diagnosed I had stopped my periods and as I was 52 assumed that I'd gone through the menopause. They came back irregularly straight after I went onto insulin but I noticed the rise in BS before each one and have been able to predict their arrival by that.
Only thing is for the last 3 months they've been regular, and I'm not certain that I'm happy about that :rolleyes:

[liz32]

Very interesting! I always knew that periods played havoc on everything else so it's small wonder that it messes with our bs's too. I'm going to start keeping a better track of that time of the month. I must admit, that since getting my tubes tied I don't tend to pay any attention to my periods. I guess I will start. Thanks for the info.
Liz

[kgm0612]

I tend to run a bit higher a few days before my period, and then drop down below target range during it. Some women do adjust their basal rates the week of their period, but I don't.

Karen

[Tokyo Cate]

I tend to run a bit higher a few days before my period, and then drop down below target range during it. Some women do adjust their basal rates the week of their period, but I don't.

Funny that I experienced that for 15 years and didn't even really put it together as something I could control. I just expected to run high and didn't change what I was doing. Now I will try and sort out different ratios for the different phases of my cycle.

I am such a dork. If I improve that week, shouldn't my A1c be 25% better? OK, I'm not going to hope for that much, but I will have some hopes.

[jen_slc]

I never noticed any bg changes for years while I was on the pill but in the last year since coming off it, I have noticed my levels go a bit high (not consistently, it's a bit wacky up and down) the few days right before my period. They usually return to normal 1-2 days into it. Usually when I start getting weird readings that I can't explain, it's a good indication that my period is on its way. Like this morning when I woke up at 276 after going to bed at 131, and now the cramps are here. It's annoying, but being on MDI, I've never really seen how to control it, I imagine it would be much easier on a pump (but even when I was pumping I didn't change any rates). I've never considered upping my ratios to compensate during these few days, though I probably should...hmm, maybe that's why my average has been a bit bad lately!!! Thanks for the reminder, Tokyo Cate! :five:

[Stumpkins]

Don't I know this one! When I ovulate and then the week of my cycle, I go from a basal rate of 1.0 to 1.35 - AND my insulin/carb ration changes drastically!!!!! It stinks being a gal! :)

[SugaryOne]

I've noticed this, my total units from basal over 24hrs increases 9 units before my cycle. Goes from 31u/day to 40u. So I have a specific basal pattern for this, Cozmo calls it 'Monthly'.

[pam]

Due to PCOS I don't bleed each month but my hormones do tell me that it's supposed to be that time of the month *blush*

[leslie91879]

My endo told me and my mom that once I hit 9 yrs old. He wanted us to know what was going on before it all started since that is one of the toughest times. Also 3 years ago I started taking the pill I can now leave my basil rates along on my pump during that week (before I was having to change them) and my migraines have stopped

[amccrazgrl]

i dont have to change my basal rate or anything for my monthly hmm maybe im just differnet