Hormones and Menopause affects on Diabetes

I went to the doctor today.  She is a lovely woman who is very concerned with the affects that my menopause is having on my Diabetes.  I did not really coordinate the two going hand in hand on some of the things that have been plaguing me lately.  Now I have a little more understanding of what is going on with my Diabetes that I did not understand before.

Changes in blood sugar level. The hormones estrogen and progesterone affect how your cells respond to insulin. After menopause, changes in your hormone levels can trigger fluctuations in your blood sugar level. You may notice that your blood sugar level is more variable or less predictable than before. If your blood sugar gets out of control, you have a higher risk of diabetes complications.
Source:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DA00038

Weight gain in the menopausal  woman can create a need to increase our Insulin or our Diabetic Medications.  Our bodies fluctuation in hormones and the imbalances create a need for adjustments in our medications sometimes.

Often when we are post menopausal a drop in the estrogen that our body produces creates a better environment to bread bacteria such as candida or yeast, which creates yeast infections and options for Uti's or Urinary Tract Infections which if left untreated can cause kidney infections, this becomes very dangerous but along with that it also creates instabilities in in our blood glucose levels.  It is important to watch our sugars and also maintain good hygiene and keep well hydrated.

I am to frequently aware of , the lack of sleep do to night sweats, hot flashes which you just can not sleep through very well.  It makes our blood sugar hard to maintain and keep in control.  Our body is under stress not only from the lack of the hormone but because our body is in need of good rest and hydration.  I keep a large water bottle right next to my bed and I drink at least 36 ounces during the night.  Sleep is difficult but you can find great over the counter supplements and exercise that will help you manage some of this along with some social activities and relaxation programs will help you get better rest.  Remember the less stress the better we manage our Diabetes.

Seek help for menopausal symptoms. If you're struggling with hot flashes, vaginal dryness, decreased sexual response or other menopausal symptoms, remember that treatment is available. For example, your doctor may recommend a vaginal lubricant to restore vaginal moisture or vaginal estrogen therapy to correct thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls (vaginal atrophy). If weight gain is a problem, a registered dietitian can help you revise your meal plans. For some women, hormone therapy is an option.
Source:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DA00038/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Its not easy for women with regular menopause, but it is even harder for us women with Diabetes.  Make sure to discuss this with your health care professional.  Let him/her know the changes and take time to journal the changes so that your doctor will have record of what you are going through.  Life changes can be difficult but managed when you keep up with your disease.

We are a community affected with something that is hard to live with but together we are a community getting healthier and living longer and better lives.  The more information we share and learn about, the better communication and understanding of Diabetes the better off we will be.  So share information and communicate with one another.

If you are interested or have an interesting topic or would like to be a guest blogger on Diabetic Day feel free to connect with me Gwen Johnson @DiabeticDay or diabetic.day2013@gmail.com.

Sex and the Diabetic, No it's not a Movie it's Real Talk

Lets face it having Diabetes takes away the hey babe ya wanna excitement.  It isn't that you don't want to, more like your urges might not be there as they were before.  Sometimes you just become depressed and other times your medication or complications can play a part in why you don't want some. 

Each of these factors can play a part in what is physiologically happening inside of your body and to your emotions and mental state.  Take for instance Depression.  Often in Depression you feel as though your tired and sad and things just are not worth the effort if you can even find enough energy to make an effort.  You may be sleepy and want to sleep much of the time and things that used to be fun and exciting may no longer make you feel the same way. 

If you are taking medications for your Diabetes and it's complications often the medications have side affects so make sure to read them or ask your Pharmacist about the side affects.  Talk to your doctor and let him or her know what is going on with you.  Heart medications can interrupt things in the body, and Diabetic Neuropathy affects many part of your body including female and male parts.  Sensation that would create feelings to help are often just nil or non existant.  Blood flow is often slowed down because of damage done to the cardiovascular issues that Diabetics often deal with from complications of the disease making it harder to obtain erections for men and stimulation to the clitoral area for women.

It isn't something you really want to talk about very often as a Diabetic, but it is a very real thing that happens to many of us.  It is a sensitive subject but one you need to speak about to your spouse and to your health care professionals.  There are numerous things that you can do for yourself and things that you can do for each other.  Doctors also have some things they can discuss with you.  Don't be afraid to discuss your Sex Life with your spouse and your healthcare professional, great things can be accomplished to help the situation.

I am going to post some really good information regarding this and remember it isn't just because someone has no need for it or want but that there can be many things affecting the why's of  Diabetes interrupting yours or a spouses sex life.

Evidence of Neuropathy in your feet may mean that nerves in other parts of your body are affected as well, possibly affecting your sexual functioning.
Source:  http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/articles/sexual-health/when-diabetes-affects-your-sex-life/all/

There’s a lot you can do on your own, too, to improve your sex life, whether you are able to actually change your physical functioning or simply learn new ways to enjoy what you have. 
Source:  http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/articles/sexual-health/when-diabetes-affects-your-sex-life/all/

10 sex tips for Diabetics
http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/diabetes/10-sex-tips-for-diabetics

Sexual problems in women are also common although not always reported. It is estimated that one third of women may have problems with sexual desire, vaginal dryness, and the ability to reach orgasm.

 Sexual problems in men with diabetes are common with over half of men being impacted. Age and the progression of the disease both increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and low testosterone, the two most common sexual health issues.

Source:  http://healthpages.org/self-care/sex-diabetes/

There are things we as Diabetics can do to help ourselves get through a difficult period in our Disease, but remember the Disease doesn't just affect us it affects our mates as well.  Talking a direct communication with your mate will make it easier to find solutions and answers to these all to often common issues Diabetics have with Sex.  Keep open communication flowing it will help resolve any issues you may be having in your relationship.

There are so many great articles out there.  Just open up your web browser and ask the questions.  It will have several answers for you but most of them are very common facts and will answer your questions quite well.  Don't forget to speak to your healthcare professional, ask if they are comfortable in discussing the physical aspects of what your Disease may be creating for you, if not ask them if they have suggestions on who to speak to about it.  The only questions that are not good questions are those that don't get asked.

If you have comments or a blog Idea, if you have a subject you want to discuss or just a question please feel free to connect with me at diabetic.day2013@gmail.com.  Together we can make us knowledgeable about our Diabetes and we can share and help each other in our journey.