Women who go through menopause at an early or late age may have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. The study involved 124,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative.
Among these women, those who had menoapuse before they were 46 face a 25 percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to EurekAlert. This is compared to women who had menopause when they were 46 to 55. Those who had their menopause after 55 faced a 12 percent greater risk of developing diabetes.
Going through menopause early or late could lead to diabetes. https://t.co/tXSmFv2wbJ pic.twitter.com/5AcoTyj0d7
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Ideal Menopause Age Is Between 45 To 55
"Our study suggests the optimal window for menopause and diabetes risk is between the ages of 45 and 55," said lead researcher Dr. Erin LeBlanc, as per a report from The Guardian. LeBlanc added that women who have their menopause before or after those ages should be "especially vigilant about reducing obesity, eating a healthy diet and exercising" to decrease risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Previous studies have already revealed a connection between early menopause and increased risk of developing diabetes. Still, the new Kaiser study is said to be the first to reveal a connection between late menopause and developing diabetes.
Women's Length Of Reproduction Also A Factor
LeBlanc and her colleagues also found that lifetime reproductive cycle of a woman or the time from her first period to her last is also a factor for diabetes risk, BBC reported. Women with reproductive cycles of less than 30 years were found to have 37 percent increased risk of diabetes compared to those with cycles of 36-40 years. Cycles of more than 45 years were tied to a 23 percent greater risk for diabetes.
"This study suggests that lifetime oestrogen exposure may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes - women may need an 'optimal' amount of oestrogen exposure for best metabolic functioning," said JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, as quoted in the report. This study was published in the journal Menopause.
