For years, I thought I was failing at diabetes every single month.

Same meals. Same insulin. Same workouts. Yet suddenly my blood sugars were higher, corrections stopped working, cravings intensified, and I felt exhausted trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

Then I learned the truth:
Hormones change insulin sensitivity.

In this episode of the Type 1 in Midlife Podcast, we're talking about why blood sugars often become more difficult to manage during the luteal phase — the 7–14 days before your period begins — and how progesterone can increase insulin resistance, impact fasting glucose, cravings, sleep, and stress response.

Inside this conversation:

• Why insulin suddenly feels "weaker" before your cycle
• Common blood sugar patterns women experience before a period
• Higher fasting numbers and stubborn post-meal highs
• Cravings, sleep disruption, and lower HRV
• How to track your cycle without becoming obsessive
• Why understanding patterns reduces fear and self-blame

If you've ever felt like you have "two versions" of diabetes every month, this episode will help you feel seen, validated, and informed.

This conversation is also a sneak peek into my upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, releasing May 27, 2026 — created to help women better understand the connection between hormones, blood sugar, and life transitions from monthly cycles to menopause.

Resources + Next Steps

My upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, goes deeper into this—helping you understand how your cycle, hormones, sleep, and insulin all work together so you can stop guessing and start responding with confidence.

👉 Order Your Book: Highs, Lows, & Hormones
👉 Connect with other women inside the Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

If your morning number has started creeping up—even though you haven't changed anything—you are not imagining it.

This is one of the most common patterns I see in women with type 1 diabetes moving through their 40s and beyond.

And it's not about doing more or trying harder.

It's physiology.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why fasting blood sugar is often the first place midlife hormone shifts show up—and what's actually happening overnight in your body.

Because when you understand the "why," you can respond with clarity instead of frustration.

What You'll Learn:

• How declining estrogen impacts insulin sensitivity overnight
• Why cortisol rises earlier and stronger in midlife
• How the dawn phenomenon becomes more pronounced
• The role of progesterone shifts in blood sugar variability
• Why muscle loss affects overnight glucose regulation
• How sleep disruption directly raises fasting blood sugar

Why This Matters

Morning blood sugar is often the first signal that something is shifting hormonally.

And too often, women blame themselves. But this isn't failure, it's your body asking for a different approach.

What You Can Start Doing:

• Build and protect muscle with strength training
• Prioritize protein at dinner to support overnight stability
• Improve sleep quality to lower cortisol response
• Evaluate basal insulin needs (this often changes in midlife)
• Track patterns across your cycle or symptom shifts

A Personal Note

After 40+ years of living with type 1 diabetes, I've seen how quickly things can change in this season. What used to work… stops working, and that can feel discouraging.

But it's also where deeper understanding begins.

Resources + Next Steps

My upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, goes deeper into this—helping you understand how your cycle, hormones, sleep, and insulin all work together so you can stop guessing and start responding with confidence.

👉 Join the waitlist + get my free Type 1 + Hormone Support Guide
👉 Connect with other women inside the Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle

What to do now:

*Join the book pre-launch list for early access, bonuses, and 2026 launch updates. Grab my free guide, HRT and Type 1 Diabetes Everything I wish I knew in perimenopause.

*Follow me IG @Type1.in.midlife stay in the loop on upcoming episodes. DM me with any feedback or suggestions on topics you'd like us to cover.

*Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.