Blood sugar changes more often and fluctuates more dramatically in perimenopause, which increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes complications.
Estrogen and progesterone affect how cells respond to insulin. Changes in the levels of these hormones during menopause can trigger fluctuations in your blood sugar level. As a result, certain conditions, like diabetes and metabolic syndrome, become more common during this stage in life.
Additionally, as metabolism slows in perimenopause, the body finds it more difficult to burn calories, leading to weight gain, particularly around the belly. When the fat builds up deep in the gut, it raises the risk of insulin resistance and incidence of Type 2 Diabetes.