11/04/2025
The transition through menopause isn't just about hot flashes and mood swings—it’s a powerful shift in your metabolic health. As estrogen levels decline, your body becomes more insulin resistant, stores more fat centrally, and burns less energy at rest. All of this increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
And if you entered menopause early (before age 45) or experienced premature ovarian insufficiency (before age 40), your risk is even higher—by up to 32% according to major studies. What’s important to know is that this increased risk is independent of your BMI, lifestyle, or smoking history.
This is why menopause—especially when it comes early—should be treated as a critical risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Even if you feel healthy or are “normal weight,” your hormones may be silently shifting your metabolic landscape.
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may help reduce the risk in some women, but it isn’t currently recommended just for diabetes prevention. That said, personalized care matters. So does early screening, especially if you’re in your 40s and navigating symptoms.
If you’re in this stage of life, ask your provider about tracking your glucose, insulin resistance, and overall metabolic health. You deserve answers, not gaslighting.
