World Diabetes Day: hand-picked resources

To mark World Diabetes Day, the balance team has hand-picked the following resources to give you further information, support and practical advice about diabetes and its relationship with menopause.

Diabetes and menopause factsheet

Whether you already have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or you think you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, this factsheet gives you all the basics you need to know about the link with your hormones around the time of menopause.

Over the last year on her podcast, balance founder Dr Louise Newson has met with a plethora of experts in diet and nutrition to discuss what current science tells us about the importance of what we eat for our physical health, including our risk of type 2 diabetes. Here are some episodes worth revisiting:

Podcast with Dr Rupy Aujla on health eating with busy lifestyles

In this podcast, Dr Newson talks to Dr Aujla about the principles of healthy eating, how a busy lifestyle and your environment often make it challenging to find and choose healthy, affordable foods.

Podcast with Dr Tim Spector on health and nutrition

Dr Newson and Dr Spector discuss the importance of gut health and gut biodiversity, in particular with respect to mental and physical health. They discuss how many diseases, including type 2 diabetes can be prevented by having the right knowledge of food and cooking from scratch rather than eating processed foods.

Other great podcast episodes on diet and nutrition to improve your health are:

Dr Robert Lustig on changing minds about food and diet

Weight loss, diabetes and menopause with Dr Clare Bailey and Dr Michael Mosley

The Healthy Eating Doctor, Dr Harriet Holme

Dr Saira Hameed on science-based weight reduction

Healthy eating for the menopause factsheet

As your risk of developing type 2 diabetes rises with weight gain, maintaining a healthy weight is key to avoiding diabetes in later life. If you want to know more about incorporating hormone healthy meals into your routines, these written resources are a good place to start:

Why not check out this article by Dr Sally Norton on managing weight gain in menopause. Plus our changing body shape booklet is full of practical tips to look after your health and weight in the perimenopause and menopause.

Heart disease and perimenopause and menopause factsheet

A future health complication that can arise from type 2 diabetes is heart disease and changes to your blood vessels. Plus, check out our high blood pressure factsheet.