Female sex hormone estrogen affects all types of metabolism, including carbohydrate and fat metabolism. All this contributes to both increase and decrease in blood sugar. The development of diabetes does not exclude the possibility of hypoglycaemia - a sharp decline in blood sugar.

Effect of estrogen on metabolism

Estrogens primarily affect lipid metabolism, reducing the intensity of metabolic processes. This leads to the formation of a so-called central or visceral obesity, wherein the fat is stored in the waist and internal organs. The adipose tissue is an active synthesis of female sex hormones, so women have to menopause overweight, menopause occurs later.

At the same time disturbed carbohydrate metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting : Cells of various organs and tissues become less sensitive to insulin (insulin resistance), which promotes the absorption of glucose by cells - the main source of energy. As a result, the blood accumulates much insulin and glucose, which contributes to the formation of the second type of diabetes, in which glucose levels are many, but it is not absorbed by cells because they are less sensitive to insulin. In addition, with insufficient intake of estrogens in the blood increased glucose production in the liver.

Effect on visceral obesity amount of glucose in the blood

Visceral obesity contributes to the formation of insulin resistance. This happens because the fatty tissue of the internal organs has a direct effect on the liver and more actively involved in metabolism than subcutaneous fat. It allocates biologically active substances which act on the liver to form insulin resistance.

Such violations of metabolic processes contribute to high blood pressure, body weight gain, increased blood cholesterol levels that. This further worsens the carbohydrate metabolism.

Glucose is vital cells of the human body for them to exchange processes. Especially needed glucose to the brain cells. Therefore, the cerebral cortex precisely control the content of glucose in the blood and if it is not enough, includes additional mechanisms of its receipt.

Why during menopause may develop hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia develops when the human body is more insulin than is currently required. When menopause blood may contain a lot of insulin, which can not perform their functions to improve glucose uptake tissues. However, since normally high levels of insulin are always associated with low blood glucose, with insufficient intake of glucose in tissues include contrainsular mechanisms - the release of substances (stress hormones How to beat stress? Create an oasis For example, epinephrine and glucagon, favors the formation of glucose from glycogen reserves are stored in the liver). Under the influence of these substances liver glycogen is cleaved, and further portions of the blood to glucose.

Since menopausal estrogen may be fluctuations in the amount of blood, together with them, increases or decreases in the blood glucose content and degree of assimilation of its tissue cells. This can lead to both an increase in blood sugar Blood sugar - a very important indicator   (hyperglycemia), and to a sharp decrease (hypoglycemia).

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

Insufficient intake of glucose to the brain cells is accompanied by a sudden change in mood, irritability, weakness, fatigue, severe hunger, dizziness, visual disturbances (blurred perception of objects), the feeling that "feet do not hold." When the mechanisms counterregulation appear such symptoms as tremors in the limbs first, and then throughout the body, sweating, heart palpitations, pallor, anxiety and fear. Sometimes there are sensory disturbances in the form of "pins and needles on the body", numbness of the limbs.

If despite all the efforts of the organism in the blood glucose level does not rise, there comes a starvation of the brain cells - it becomes really dangerous, because the outcome could be a hypoglycemic coma with irreversible changes in the brain cells. Signs of incipient hypoglycemic coma is a violation of concentration, speech, coordination of movements. Often there is an increased agitation, which was then replaced by impairment of consciousness up to its complete loss, seizures, strokes.

At the first signs of hypoglycemia Lowered blood sugar - hypoglycemia signs   urgently need to eat something sweet, for example, two or more pieces of candy sugar. Repeat intake of sugar can be a quarter of an hour, if the condition has not improved. If this does not work, then you need to call an ambulance.

At menopause every woman should control blood sugar, especially if she has any symptoms of menopause.

Galina Romanenko

Menopause occurs in the natural end of every woman of reproductive age. So why not treat it as a natural process? Hormone replacement therapy has long been the standard treatment of menopause, although we now know that traditional hormone replacement therapy with synthetic estrogen and progestin increases the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Many women and doctors do not ask for and did not prescribe this therapy.

More and more women every day are turning to natural methods for treating the symptoms that they experience during menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Try to follow these tips to ease the symptoms of menopause:

• Your diet - an important tool that you can use to control the symptoms of menopause Symptoms of menopause - when the desire is weakening in his eyes . Products to be avoided - anything that contains large amounts of caffeine, carbonated beverages containing phosphorus, as it increases the risk of bone loss. Also avoid meat produced on an industrial scale, including beef, pork and chicken, as the meat contains a lot of saturated fat, which increases the body's ability to convert estrogen. Excessive sugar intake also reduces the possibility of your liver to convert estrogen and weakens the immune system.

Increase your intake of foods containing phytoestrogens including soy. Other foods that you should include in your diet - whole grains, oats, wheat, brown rice, tofu, almonds, cashews, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Supplements with red clover have a positive effect on bone loss to improve the condition of the cardiovascular system and may serve as a prevention against breast cancer and uterine cancer. Red clover reduces hot flashes, one of the most common symptoms for women who complain of perimenopausal period and during the time of the menopause.

Acidophilic lactic acid bacteria ("good" bacteria in our intestinal flora) are very important for women during menopause, because they help the metabolism and processing of estrogen, and some believe that these good bacteria reduce the risk of thrush. These bacteria can be found in various nutritional formulations on the market.

• Certain vitamins and minerals may also be useful for women during menopause. These include vitamin E (400-800 units daily) reduces hot flashes and night sweating; calcium (1500 mg daily), it is better not to use calcium carbonate, because it may not be fully absorbed, and microcrystalline gidroksipatit calcium or calcium citrate; magnesium (500-750 mg per day) helps to absorb calcium; vitamin C (1000-2000 mg daily), helps in the absorption of vitamin E and reduces capillary fragility.
• Also recommend taking black cohosh kistenosny (20-60 mg three times a day), it contains phytoestrogen that helps many women manage menopause symptoms Symptoms of menopause: forewarned is forearmed . Although it should be noted that women whose menopause occurred after surgery, can not count on the help of phytoestrogen as a woman with a natural beginning menopause. More medicinal plants that can be taken in this case, Angelica archangelica (500-1000 mg two-three times a day), evening primrose oil (500 mg three or four times a day), ginseng (100-500 mg three times a day) , Monash pepper (175 mg daily).
• Preparations of natural estrogen may be taken if the doctor prescribes them to you. These types of estrogen biologically identical to estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health That is produced by your body. There are three types of estrogen, which is commonly used in hormone replacement therapy biologically identical. It estrone (E ₁ ), Estradiol (E ₂ ) and estriol (E ₃ ). The first two hormones cause most of the risk associated with the use of estrogen. Natural and biologically identical formulations are prepared by combining these three types of estrogen, is the most common formula - 10% of estrone, estradiol and 10% to 80% of estriol - called three-estrogen or a tri-ECT. Two-called bio-identical to the preparation of bi-estrogen.

Natural Estrogen - a very important component that helps to cope with the symptoms of menopause for many women. It can be purchased without a prescription, one of his titles progest, it is part of a designated prescription at the pharmacy he called prometrium. The advantage of using cream instead of oral forms that you need a much lower dose, as it is not necessary to process your liver. Progestins, such as checking - not natural progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology And a synthetic version, which is not chemically identical to the progesterone produced by your body. Natural progesterone does not cause side effects and side effects of progestins have, namely, irregular bleeding, and fluid retention.

• Of course, do not forget to do more exercise. This is likely the only important thing, by which a woman can improve your overall health and well-being throughout life. Regular exercise (at least three to four days a week) to help prevent and reduce the loss of bone tissue and play a major role in reducing the risk of many types of cancer as well as heart disease.

Although these tips help many women, remember that all women are different and you may need time to find the type of treatment that is best suited for you. Always put notify your doctor about any alternative method that you use, including vitamins, herbs, ointments and so on.