HRT AND LOW BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

I STARTED HRT 4 MONTHS AGO AFTER A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY. MY BLOOD SUGARS HAVE BEEN BETWEEN 58-78 UP TO TWO HOURS AFTER EATING A MEAL,,,,AND EVEN AFTER SWEETS,,,,,IS THIS A SIDE EFFECT OF THE HRT (VIVELLE DOT),,OR SOMETHING I NEED TO QUESTION MY FAMILY PHYSICIAN ABOUT? I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED BEFORE WITH LOW BLOOD SUGAR,,,BUT HAD SPOTS IN MY VISION AND LIGHTHEADED,,,I'M NOT HAVING ANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS NOW,,JUST LOW READINGS. I'M NOT OVERWEIGHT,,,EAT NORMAL AND WATCH MY SUGAR INTAKE. I'VE READ ALL THE INFO ON THE DOT PATCH,,BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF SUGAR LEVELS. I'M 41.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. Estrogen does not usually have an effect on blood sugar. It can affect your thyroid hormone and that is something you can have your doctor check. However, just having gone through a hysterectomy, your body is still likely getting used to this very big change. It is good that you are not overweight.  

Talk with your family physician.  You may need a glucose challenge test where you are given sugar liquid to drink and blood tests for sugar levels drawn before and every hour after for up to four hours.  Sometimes changing your diet can help as can the amount of time between meals (more frequent meals but smaller portions).  Talking with a dietitian can also be helpful.

Machelle M. Seibel, MD