New research has shown that women who are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes early in life are likely to experience an earlier menopause than non diabetics. For type 1 diabetes it’s diagnosis younger than 30 years, and for type 2 diabetes it’s between ages 30 and 39. It is thought that the inflammation generated by diabetes can cause oxidative damage to the ovaries, impairing their ability to enable maturation of follicles and sex hormone production. This may mean diabetics have fewer child bearing years.

This research was presented at North American Menopause Society annual meeting. Vrati Mehra from the University of Toronto in Canada analyzed long term implications of premenopausal diabetes on women’s reproductive health, including the age at natural menopause. The study included 11,436 women (aged 45 to 85 years) who reported having a premenopausal diagnosis of type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. The researchers discovered that after adjusting for ethnicity, education, smoking status, and gravidity, early age of diagnosis of type 1 (younger than 30 years) and type 2 (30 to 39 years) was associated with earlier menopause compared with women without diabetes. Interestingly, diagnosis of type 2 diabetes after 50 years of age was associated with later age at natural menopause. There were no significant associations between gestational diabetes and age of natural menopause.

The researchers believe that diabetes takes its toll on the body. It speeds up the aging process in every part of the body, including the ovaries.

At what age does menopause occur?

Most women begin the peri-menopause at some time during their 40s, which is really the beginning of ovarian failure. The peri-menopause consists of the period of time, before, during and after menopause where the ovarian output of sex hormones becomes erratic and eventually fails completely. The average age of menopause is 50 years with a normal range from 45 to 55. A small percentage of women (around one in a hundred), have a premature menopause in their thirties or early forties, and rarely I have seen women in their early twenties go through menopause. The causes of premature menopause vary from chronic stress, autoimmune diseases, smoking, genetic factors, hysterectomy, removal of the ovaries, chemotherapy and in some cases are unknown. Other women continue to produce good levels of estrogen and progesterone right through their forties, and well into their fifties, before the ovaries eventually fail.

What are the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause?

  • Hot flashes
  • Aches and pains
  • Vaginal dryness and discomfort
  • Painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse
  • Loss of libido
  • Bladder problems such as urgency and incontinence
  • Mood changes
  • Anxiety and panic attacks
  • Memory problems
  • Poor concentration
  • Dry and aging skin
  • Hair loss
  • Sleep disorders

Natural strategies for easing the symptoms of menopause

Try to look after your overall health. The healthier you are, the more slowly your body will age. Unfortunately autoimmune disease increases inflammation, wear and tear to the body. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Some cases of type 2 diabetes are also autoimmune. I have written about my recommendations for autoimmune disease in detail in the book Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

  1. Watch your weight. It is very common for women to experience weight gain between the ages of 35 and 55 due to fluctuations in hormone levels; as hormones and weight gain often go hand in hand. Overweight women are more likely to experience hot flashes, especially if their weight is centred around their abdominal area. Assess all areas of your lifestyle that may be contributing to weight gain with the intention of keeping your weight in the healthy range. There are excellent weight loss tips and recipes in the book I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why. Synd-X Slimming Protein Powder is a low-carb high protein powder that is perfect to eat in between meals when you are hungry; as it aids weight loss by reducing cravings for carbohydrates and reducing hunger.
  2. Look after your liver. The liver is the primary fat-burning organ of the body and one of its many roles is regulating hormones. Fatty liver is becoming increasingly common in modern society, and occurs when our liver cells get clogged with fat. Women with a fatty liver are more prone to hot flashes; due to their liver function being compromised and not being able to adequately regulate hormones. A healthy diet, lifestyle changes and good quality liver tonic such as Livatone Plus can correct this.
  3. Minimize stress. Feeling stressed, anxious and tense can worsen hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and insomnia. Work, health, family, relationships and financial issues can cause stress which diminishes hormone production. Have a massage, take a hot bath, listen to some relaxing music, read a good book, eat well and make sure you are getting adequate sleep. Take some time out for yourself and focus on the things that make you happy. You may benefit from taking magnesium, a mineral that helps to improve the physiological response to stress and helps to promote relaxation. Tyrosine is an amino acid that assists memory and mental performance during stressful conditions.
  1. Drink lots of water. Your body requires water to support the detoxification pathways in your liver and kidneys, and also helps to eliminate toxins from the body. It is recommended to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to reduce hot flashes and hydrate dry itchy skin and vaginal dryness. If you are feeling peckish, have a glass of water. It’s likely you are getting your hunger signals and thirst signals mixed up and your body really needs water. Keep your fluids up with filtered water, herbal teas and raw vegetable juices. There are juice recipes specifically for menopause in the book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life.
  1. Consume plenty of phyto-estrogens. Phyto-estrogens are gentle, natural estrogen-like hormones that have hormone balancing properties and help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Foods that contain phyto-estrogens include: alfalfa, soy beans, flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, split peas, chick peas, pumpkin, carrots, cabbage, beetroot, green beans, peas, potato, squash, apple, rhubarb, plum, cherries, olives, olive oil, parsley, garlic and fennel. Aim to incorporate some of these foods into your everyday diet. For added benefits, you may wish to add FemmePhase capsules. They contain herbs and nutrients to balance hormones and ease symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.
  1. Keep your bones strong. Osteoporosis is a common problem in post-menopausal women and can be tested with a DEXA Bone Mineral Density Test. Have a blood test to check your vitamin D levels and make sure they are towards the upper limit of the normal range. Even if you take a lot of calcium, if you are low in vitamin D the calcium will not be able to enter the bones. The best way to source vitamin D is by spending time in the sun, an average of 20 to 40 minutes a day depending on your skin tone. Rich sources of calcium include: salmon, tuna, sardines, almonds, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds and tahini. If you don’t eat these foods regularly, you may benefit from a good quality calcium supplement which combines the most absorbable form of calcium with vitamin D3, vitamin K2 and boron for bone strength.
  1. Minimize processed foods and additives. Processed foods, fast foods and soft drinks contain phosphorus and phosphate additives that can take vital minerals from your bones. Avoid processed packaged foods such as breakfast cereals, which often contain large amounts of carbohydrate. Healthy alternatives to processed breakfast cereals include oats, quinoa and natural unsweetened muesli. Follow a low-carb diet with plenty of good protein, good fats, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds to help maintain good health.
  1. Eat good fats. As we get older we require more omega 3 fatty acids to keep our cell membranes healthy. Being low in omega 3 fatty acids can result in dry eyes, skin and hair, and more aches and pains (fibromyalgia). Therefore, it becomes essential to consume omega 3 fats regularly. Good sources include oily fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel), fish oil, walnuts, ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds.

Even if you have many years before going through menopause start making these changes today that your future self will thank you for. Adopting these habits earlier on will make it that much easier when going through menopause. For further information on balancing your hormones naturally, check out the book Hormone Replacement: The Real Truth.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.