[EeyoreButterfly]

I didn't want to hijack the PCOS thread, but it reminded me of a question I have had for awhile:

Ladies, how odes your cycle affect your readings?

I've found that the week before I seem prone to more hypos. There have been a couple of motnhs I have had no hypos except when I am PMSing. I also get the munchies like mad when I am PMSing and it's never good food I crave. I'm just so **** hungry when it happens! Then when I'm actually on my period all my digetive problems get a million times worse but hey, my readings are back to normal and I'm not craving anything that isn't nailed down.

how does your cycle affect you?

[sridder]

I'm newly diagnosed (April) but I've already noticed that my BGs run slightly higher than normal the week before and then things return to normal once I start. One nice thing is that since my dx and my fairly good BG control I'm not nearly as exhausted during my cycle as I used to be. (Of course I'm also taking vitamin B12 shots so that probably helps, too!)

One other thing is that I used to get serious chocolate cravings the week before but since I've stopped eating sugary foods almost completely because of my dx, those pms cravings have gone away as well.

[princesslinda]

I'm about 10 points higher the week before my period. Day one of my period, numbers go back to normal.

Before starting metformin, I only had 3-4 periods a year. Put me on metformin...boom, every month like clockwork for the past 3 years. I'm not sure if the metformin helped my cycle or the weight loss since diagnosis...or perhaps it was both.

[genie86333]

I'm a bit higher before & during, although I attribute the *during* to the stress/pain that my problems cause, since most people I've talked to say theirs is higher just before but not during.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm surprised so many people say they are higher right before. For those who are prone to reactive hypos, do you find you have more reactive hypos right before? I'm going to have to start really looking at my numbers the week before. I'm wondering if I'm going spiking higher/faster than normal and that is why I am hypoing more.

How do you control it? Do you lower your carbs or increase exercise the week before?

[GeishaGirl]

Butterfly, I hear you. I have to lower my basal for a few days before my period, because I will wind up going majorly low otherwise. Then, when my period starts, I go HIGHER than normal -- although that may be the absolute munchies.

[Irish35]

I've not noticed a spike or lows the Week before or during.I'm regular as clockwork..every 28 Day's and 5 Day's per Month.I get Tummy issues before/during,but chalk them to being Hormonal.I have enormous cravings for Chocolate a Week or two before,yet pretend Chocolate aisles don't exist!

Were you DX'd Reactive Hypoglycemia?

[slipperyelm]

I never noticed a pattern related to my menstrual cycle.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I do have reactive hypos, but I also have some that do not appear to be reactive in nature. Those tend to happen the most before my period.