Study finds diabetics at risk for early menopause
Women who have type 1 diabetes are more likely to enter menopause early, according to a report released at the American Diabetes Association’s 57th Annual Scientific Sessions meeting in Boston.
The study, part of an ongoing review at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, compared more than 100 sets of sisters, one of the siblings in each set having type 1 diabetes.
Women in the study with type 1 diabetes reached menopause at about 40.7 years, compared with 49.9 for their nondiabetic sisters. This has implications for their health. Diabetics are two to four times more likely to have heart disease, and post-menopausal women also are at a higher risk. This means diabetic woman who reach menopause early are more likely to develop heart disease earlier, the researchers argued.
Study emphasizes prevention
The study urged diabetic women to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle by adhering to the following preventive measures:
• not smoking;
• eating a low-fat diet;
• exercising regularly;
• trying to maintain ideal weight;
• keeping their diabetes in good control.
The study’s researchers also recommended that women consider having hormone replacement therapy, especially if menopause is premature, since hormone replacement therapy has been shown to lower cardiovascular disease risks in women.
Another study released at the meeting found that women with type 1 diabetes often develop painless lumps in their breasts. However, researchers said these nodules do not appear to increase their breast cancer risk.
Scientists from both diabetes studies called for further research to be done to confirm their findings.
Suggested reading
• Dorman J, Steenkiste A, Kramer K, et al. Is the menopause in IDDM women premature? Presented at the 57th Annual Scientific Sessions Meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Boston; June 1997.
• O’Brien T, Kudva Y, Crotty T. Diabetic Mastopathy: A Clinico-pathologic Study. Presented at the 57th Annual Scientific Sessions Meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Boston; June 1997.
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