What happens when perimenopause collides with type 1 diabetes?

For many women, the answer is confusion, frustration, and feeling like they're suddenly managing a completely different body.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Sascha Vrolijk, founder of Project M(e) and host of the Perimenopause Unfiltered podcast. Sascha shares her personal journey of experiencing brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion, and unpredictable blood sugars that ultimately led her to leave a demanding career before discovering that perimenopause was at the root of many of her symptoms.

Together, they discuss:

• The symptoms that made Sascha realize something wasn't right
• Why so many women are unprepared for perimenopause
• How hormonal changes can impact blood sugar management with type 1 diabetes
• The emotional toll of feeling unlike yourself
• Why self-advocacy matters in healthcare
• How to prepare for productive conversations with your doctor
• Common hormone therapy concerns and misconceptions
• The importance of finding a provider who listens and collaborates
• Why sharing our stories helps other women feel less alone

Whether you're beginning to notice changes in your cycle, struggling with unexplained blood sugar swings, or simply wondering if hormones could be playing a role in how you feel, this conversation offers validation, practical insights, and encouragement.

Remember: You're not imagining it. Hormones matter and understanding what's happening in your body is the first step toward feeling more confident and in control.

Connect with Sascha Vrolijk

Website https://www.myproject-me.com/

Podcast Perimenopause Unfiltered

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.

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.

What happens when the routines that once worked for your Type 1 diabetes suddenly stop working?

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Alyssa Chapman, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 34 and has now lived with it for nearly 17 years. Together, they talk about what it looks like to manage diabetes through midlife, especially when hormone shifts begin affecting blood sugar, energy, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

Alyssa shares her experience of being diagnosed later in life, navigating the emotional side of diabetes, learning to recognize hormone-related blood sugar patterns, and discovering the value of tracking symptoms instead of only chasing numbers.

This is also a conversation about something many women need more of: support. Alyssa hosts a monthly meetup through DiabetesSisters and shares why being around other women who truly understand can make such a difference.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What it was like being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 34
• The classic symptoms Alyssa noticed before diagnosis
• Why adult diagnosis can sometimes be missed or misunderstood
• The fear of eating and dosing insulin in the early days
• How hormones started changing her blood sugar patterns in midlife
• What she noticed around her cycle and insulin sensitivity
• Tracking symptoms and discovering patterns with progesterone
• The emotional weight of fearing high blood sugars
• Letting go of perfection and micromanagement
• Using the Omnipod and Dexcom while learning to trust the system more
• The importance of finding providers who actually listen
• Why women need community support while navigating Type 1 in midlife
• Alyssa's role hosting a monthly DiabetesSisters support meetup

Want deeper support?

If you or someone you love is navigating life with diabetes, visit diabetessisters.org to become a member. It's free to join and free to use, and it's a great place to find community and support.

Learn more about my Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle, where we meet weekly and focus on one area of health each month to support hormones, blood sugar, and long-term wellbeing.

Connect with Alyssa Chapman on IG @midlifet1d

Hit the subscribe button and rate and review to help this podcast reach more people. Be sure to share this episode.

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.

Have you ever looked at your CGM and felt confident… only to get your lab A1C back and feel completely thrown off?

If your numbers don't match, you're not doing anything wrong.

In this episode, we're breaking down the real reason your CGM estimate (GMI) and lab A1C can show different results—and why this disconnect can feel so frustrating, especially after years of doing your best to manage type 1 diabetes.

Melissa shares her personal experience of seeing a 5.9 CGM estimate vs a 6.2 lab A1C and why that moment matters more than just the number.

This conversation will help you stop second-guessing yourself and start understanding what your data is actually telling you.

In This Episode I cover:

• What A1C really measures (and what it doesn't)
• How CGMs track glucose differently (interstitial vs blood)
• Why CGM estimates (GMI) are not exact
• The role of standard deviation and glucose variability
• Why your A1C can look "good" while your daily swings tell another story
• How anemia, iron levels, and hormones can impact A1C results
• Sensor accuracy, lag time, and calibration factors
• Why midlife hormones make this even more confusing

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Episode 153: What Labs to Ask for When You're Told "Everything Is Normal"
• Free Guide: Hormone Therapy + Type 1 Diabetes
• Upcoming Book: Highs, Lows & Hormones

Hit the subscribe button and rate and review to help this podcast reach more people. Be sure to share this episode.

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.