{"id":15249663,"date":"2026-08-11T02:28:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/women-with-type-2-diabetes-may-experience-worse-menopause-symptoms\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T02:33:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:33:32","slug":"women-with-type-2-diabetes-may-experience-worse-menopause-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/women-with-type-2-diabetes-may-experience-worse-menopause-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Women With Type 2 Diabetes May Experience Worse Menopause Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1296\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/media.post.rvohealth.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty_2234479679_header_1296x728.jpg\" alt=\"Older female on couch gazing out window\" class=\"wp-image-4890782\" \/><figcaption>Women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes report worse menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, a new study found. Justin Paget\/DigitalVision\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes reported worse menopause symptoms than those without the conditions.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Physical symptoms like hot flashes and joint pain were more intense among participants with diabetes or prediabetes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mood symptoms, such as irritability, were about the same across the board.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Menopause symptoms may be more severe if you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. <\/p>\n<p>Postmenopausal women with <a href=\"\/nutrition\/prevent-diabetes\">type 2 diabetes<\/a> or <a href=\"\/health\/type-2-diabetes\/what-is-prediabetes\">prediabetes<\/a> reported more <a href=\"\/health\/menopause\/difference-perimenopause\">menopause<\/a> symptoms, according to a study published in <a href=\"https:\/\/menopause.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/press-release\/MENO-D-26-00078.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Menopause<\/a> on August 5.<\/p>\n<p>Participants with diabetes rated the physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, as more severe than those in the same age range who did not have a diabetes diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers at Eulji University and Asan Medical Center in Seoul surveyed 296 South Korean females ages 45 to 64. They compared 220 females with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes against 76 who had neither, and excluded those who used hormone therapy or had depression, sleep disorders, or diabetes complications.<\/p>\n<p>Among postmenopausal participants, those with diabetes or prediabetes reported about 19 symptoms on average. Females with neither condition reported about 14. <\/p>\n<p>The overall symptom severity score for postmenopausal females was 54% higher.<\/p>\n<p>Across the full sample of 296 participants, physical symptoms, such as <a href=\"\/health\/what-does-a-hot-flash-feel-like\">hot flashes<\/a> and joint pain, were 46% more intense in the diabetes and prediabetes group than those without the conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Mood symptoms, including irritability and low mood, scored similarly in both groups. Among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/menopause\/difference-perimenopause\">premenopausal<\/a> and perimenopausal women, the researchers found no statistically significant differences.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How menopause affects blood sugar, type 2 diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Type 2 diabetes occurs when glucose builds up in the blood due to insulin resistance, leading to higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. <\/p>\n<p>Prediabetes develops when blood sugar is higher than what&#8217;s considered typical, but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sepiamodernprimarycare.com\/about\/meet-the-doctor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Serina Lewis-Everett<\/a>, MD, a board certified family medicine physician and owner of Sepia Modern Primary Care in Catonsville, MD, told Healthline that hormonal changes affect blood sugar directly. Lewis-Everett wasn&#8217;t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Declining <a href=\"\/health\/womens-health\/benefits-of-estrogen\">estrogen<\/a> levels can contribute to increased <a href=\"\/health\/type-2-diabetes\/insulin\">insulin<\/a> resistance, changes in body composition, sleep disruption, and mood changes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;All of these can make blood sugar more difficult to control.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.piedmont.org\/provider\/Wedad+Rahman\/870707\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wedad Rahman<\/a>, MD, an endocrinologist with Piedmont Healthcare in Conyers, GA, told Healthline that estrogen and progesterone fall over a period of years, and that shift changes where the body stores fat. Rahman wasn&#8217;t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That change leads to lower lean muscle mass, which then makes it easier for fat tissue to accumulate in all the wrong places,&#8221; she said. Fat settles in the abdomen and around the organs, Rahman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That in turn increases insulin resistance and makes it more likely for one to develop type 2 diabetes,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>The relationship runs in both directions. A 2018 study published in <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29206771\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Menopause<\/a> found that severe hot flash symptoms were associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on. The association was greater for those with severe symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>Diabetes is also common in this age group. In a 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9871996\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">analysis <\/a>of national health survey data covering nearly 5,000 postmenopausal U.S. females, 16% had type 2 diabetes, and females who reached menopause earlier were more likely to have it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why menopause symptoms may feel worse with diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Korean study did not test why diabetes would intensify menopause symptoms. Rahman shared some insights.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Mood<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>People with type 2 diabetes experience <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4863499\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anxiety and depression at higher rates<\/a> than the general population, Rahman said, partly from the work of managing the condition. <\/p>\n<p>She noted that managing the the daily challenges of managing blood sugar levels combined with menopause symptoms could take a toll on mental health.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Menopause brings insomnia and night sweats. Not sleeping well increases stress hormones like cortisol, Rahman said, which may lead to spikes in blood sugar. &#8220;<a href=\"\/health\/sleep-deprivation\/effects-on-body#effects\">Sleep<\/a> is medicine,&#8221; Rahman said.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hand and feet pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Diabetes can damage the small nerves in the hands and feet, Rahman said, which may become life-altering for some individuals, potentially leading to neuropathy later in life. Weight gain and inadequate sleep may only exacerbate symptoms, she said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s important to recognize that menopause doesn&#8217;t occur in isolation,&#8221; Lewis-Everett said. &#8220;For women with diabetes, it&#8217;s another major life transition that deserves individualized care rather than being treated as separate from their chronic disease management.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to talk to your doctor about menopause and diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The researchers noted that Korean women often delay care because of cultural expectations around self-sacrifice. Lewis-Everett said she sees American women minimize symptoms for different reasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Many assume that fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, or a decreased libido are simply an unavoidable part of aging or that they&#8217;re expected to &#8216;push through it,&#8217;&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis-Everett said it can be helpful to mention menopause early in a doctor&#8217;s visit rather than waiting until the end.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Primary care physicians are often trying to address multiple chronic conditions, review medications, manage preventive screenings, and respond to immediate concerns, all within a relatively short appointment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Her advice: &#8220;Before the appointment, write down your symptoms, when they started, how they&#8217;re affecting your daily life, and any patterns you&#8217;ve noticed.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If there isn&#8217;t time, she said to ask for a dedicated follow-up.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, you might ask questions that connect the two conditions. Lewis-Everett suggested bringing a short list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Could menopause be contributing to changes in my blood sugar?<\/li>\n<li>Are my symptoms related to menopause, diabetes, or both?<\/li>\n<li>Am I a candidate for menopausal hormone therapy or non-hormonal treatment options?<\/li>\n<li>Would a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/type-2-diabetes\/considering-glp1s\">GLP-1<\/a> medication make sense for me, and how would it fit with my current treatment?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Consider whether a GLP-1 belongs in the conversation.&#8221;GLP-1s really help curb the food noise. They improve the satiety part of things,&#8221; Rahman said.<\/p>\n<p>Signaling fullness sooner cuts calorie intake, she said, which drives the weight loss. The drugs also reduce insulin resistance, she said, which bears on the fat redistribution that accompanies menopause.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Daily habits to help with menopause, diabetes symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Menopause and type 2 diabetes often respond to the same lifestyle changes, Rahman said. However, what may have worked at 35 does not work the same way at 55. <\/p>\n<p>Rahman said it&#8217;s important to be realistic about how changes in the body after menopause can make weight gain easier and weight loss harder. <\/p>\n<p>Here are some ways to create positive lifestyle changes at any age.<\/p>\n<h3>Prioritize movement<\/h3>\n<p>Rahman recommends at least 30 minutes of activity five times a week: a walk around the neighborhood, a stationary bike, and a dance video in the living room all count. &#8220;Anything is something,&#8221; she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Consistent movement yields the best results. Exercise also improves sleep, mood, and blood sugar at the same time, she said.<\/p>\n<p>Consider adding resistance training to your aerobic exercise routine. For instance, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2666149726000010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2026 8-week randomized trial<\/a> of 60 participants ages 48\u201358 with type 2 diabetes found that combined training improved blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n<h3>Eat a balanced diet<\/h3>\n<p>Rahman recommended home-cooked food, whole grains, lean protein, fresh produce, and water over <a href=\"\/health-news\/ultraprocessed-foods-addictive-tobacco\">addictive ultraprocessed foods <\/a>and sodium-rich restaurant meals.<\/p>\n<h3>Take care of your mental health<\/h3>\n<p>Rahman said she counsels her diabetes patients to anticipate mood changes rather than be blindsided, including working with a therapist to identify triggers and build coping strategies before symptoms escalate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/type-2-diabetes-may-worsen-menopause-symptoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">News \u2013 World \u2013 Canada \u2013 rss.app #1 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes report worse menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, a new study found. Justin Paget\/DigitalVision\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes reported worse menopause symptoms than those without the conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Physical symptoms like hot\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15249665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15249663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728.avif",1296,728,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-620x348.avif",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-768x431.avif",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-940x528.avif",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728.avif",1296,728,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728.avif",1296,728,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-998x665.avif",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-670x446.avif",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728.avif",1296,728,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-510x510.avif",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-160x160.avif",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-24x24.avif",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-48x48.avif",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-96x96.avif",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-150x150.avif",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15249663-getty_2234479679_header_1296x728-300x300.avif",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/news\/canada\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Canada<\/a>","tag_info":"Canada","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15249663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15249663"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15249663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15249664,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15249663\/revisions\/15249664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15249665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15249663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15249663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15249663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}