Survey study, 1993
Do women with diabetes have different menstrual symptoms than women without diabetes?
Yes. Women with diabetes reported changes in blood sugar around their period. They also had later periods starting in life, more irregular cycles, and less severe PMS compared to women without diabetes.
What they did
406 women with insulin-dependent diabetes completed a questionnaire about their menstrual cycle and symptoms, and their answers were compared with those of non-diabetic women who answered a similar questionnaire.
What they found
67% of diabetic women experienced changes in blood sugar or sugar in the urine before their period, and 70% during menstruation. Women who craved sweet foods tended to have higher blood sugar at those times. Diabetic women started their periods later in life and had more irregular cycles than non-diabetic women. Among those who reported having PMS, diabetic women had less severe symptoms than non-diabetic women.
What it means for you
Diabetes affects the menstrual cycle and may change how severe PMS symptoms feel. The sweet cravings may happen because women eat more sweets when their blood sugar is already high. This was one survey done at one time point, not a controlled trial, which limits what we can conclude.
406
women with diabetes studied
67%
with blood sugar changes before period
70%
with changes during menstruation
About the study
- Original title
- Perimenstrual symptoms in women with diabetes mellitus and the relationship to diabetic control
- Authors
- Cawood EH, Bancroft J, Steel JM
- Journal
- Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None - this compared diabetic and non-diabetic women
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-5491.1993.tb00096.x
Topics
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