Lab study, 1986
Does the menstrual cycle affect how the body handles blood sugar?
No clear difference was found in how the body handled blood sugar at different cycle phases in either healthy women or women reporting premenstrual low blood sugar attacks. Women reported low blood sugar symptoms even when their blood sugar was not actually low.
What they did
Researchers tested 5 healthy women and 6 women with premenstrual syndrome reporting low blood sugar attacks at different times in their menstrual cycle. They gave each an oral glucose challenge and measured blood sugar, insulin, and glucagon responses. They also tested what happened when they gave naloxone.
What they found
Blood sugar, insulin, and glucagon responses to the glucose challenge were similar at different cycle phases in both groups and similar between healthy women and women with reported low blood sugar attacks. Naloxone did not change these responses. Four of the six women with reported hypoglycemic symptoms had these symptoms even when their blood sugar was above 50 mg/dL.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle does not directly affect how your body handles sugar. Women who report premenstrual low blood sugar symptoms may be experiencing something other than actual low blood sugar. The study was small with only a few women tested.
5
healthy women tested
6
women with reported low blood sugar attacks
50 mg/dL
blood sugar level despite reported symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Oral glucose tolerance during the menstrual cycle in normal women and women with alleged premenstrual "hypoglycemic" attacks: effects of naloxone
- Authors
- Reid RL, Greenaway-Coates A, Hahn PM
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 1986
- Study design
- Lab study
- What was tested
- Oral glucose challenge with and without naloxone
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jcem-62-6-1167