{"id":1095,"date":"2026-03-24T08:57:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T08:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/?p=1095"},"modified":"2026-04-08T22:54:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T22:54:02","slug":"early-menopause-not-linked-to-higher-diabetes-risk-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/early-menopause-not-linked-to-higher-diabetes-risk-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Early menopause not linked to higher diabetes risk, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Researchers from Spain recently conducted a study to determine whether the timing of menopause can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The researchers did not find a link between menopause timing and diabetes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>While some women who went through early menopause developed type 2 diabetes, the scientists found that this was connected to health and lifestyle factors instead of the timing of menopause itself.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div data-preamp=\"serena-chatbot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/155651\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Menopause<\/a>\u00a0refers to the end of a woman\u2019s reproductive stage of life. While many of the changes women experience during menopause are related to the reproductive system, it can also affect the body in other ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>For example, hormonal changes can lead to weight gain and can impact\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/how-to-protect-heart-health-at-menopause-3-experts-advise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heart health<\/a>. The timing of menopause may affect some of these issues as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Researchers previously thought that the timing of menopause could impact the risk of developing\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/317462\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">type 2 diabetes<\/a>. However, a new study shows this may not be the case.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The findings are published in the journal\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/menopause.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/press-release\/MENO-D-25-00341.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Menopause<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Is early menopause a diabetes risk?<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Menopause typically\u00a0occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, and according to the\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/menopause\/what-menopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Institutes of Health<span class=\"css-16y17d3 icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>, the average age in the U.S. is 52.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Some women experience menopause\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2815011\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">earlier<\/a>, though. Doctors classify experiencing menopause before age 40 as premature menopause and menopause experienced between ages 40 to 45 as\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/317713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">early menopause<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>There is no single cause of this; genetics, lifestyle factors, and other health issues may contribute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Women may face health issues when going through menopause, including an\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7118366\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">increased risk<\/a>\u00a0of heart disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Scientists formerly thought that experiencing menopause earlier than typically expected contributed to an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the researchers in the new study did not consider the evidence strong enough to support this, prompting them to take a closer look.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Using health data from the U.K. Biobank, the scientists reviewed 146,764 postmenopausal women followed for an average of 14.5 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>They categorized women into groups based on the age they experienced menopause: after age 45, between ages 40 and 45, or before age 40. They also looked at whether menopause occurred naturally or as a result of surgery, such as having a\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/hysterectomy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hysterectomy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The researchers next looked at which women received a diabetes diagnosis. They then analyzed whether the age or type of menopause was linked to diabetes risk, while taking other lifestyle and health factors into consideration.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Lifestyle factors, not menopause risk, drive diabetes risk<\/h2>\n<div class=\"css-1avyp1d\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<div>\n<p>Over the study period, about 4.5% of women developed diabetes, with the vast majority being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>At first glance, diabetes appeared more common among women who experienced menopause earlier. However, once researchers adjusted for other health and lifestyle factors, this association did not hold up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Women who experienced menopause before age 40 or between ages 40 and 45 had a similar diabetes risk compared to women who experienced menopause after age 45.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Additionally, surgical menopause did not independently increase diabetes risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Instead, they found that diabetes risk was tied to health and lifestyle factors. These included obesity, smoking, an unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, and a family history of diabetes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Since many of these risk factors are modifiable, the results offer reassurance and guidance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Overall, the study shows that maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol are the most effective ways to reduce\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/323627\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diabetes<\/a> risk during and after menopause.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1avyp1d\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<h2>Experts emphasize being proactive with screenings<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sjpp.org\/find-a-doctor\/sheryl-ross-md\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sherry Ross<\/a>, MD, a board certified OB\/GYN and Women\u2019s Health Expert at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center, spoke with\u00a0<em>Medical News Today<\/em>\u00a0about the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThis study concluded that there is no increased risk to this group of women developing diabetes, but emphasized a closer look at how healthy lifestyle habits can influence their risk of developing diabetes and other metabolic changes during post menopause,\u201d said Ross.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Ross offered several suggestions that could help women lower their risk of diabetes, including counseling on nutrition, increasing physical activity, limiting alcohol intake, and developing good\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/sleep-hygiene\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleep habits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>\u201cDiscussing healthy lifestyle recommendations should be part of the annual well-woman screening process to empower women to take care of themselves hormonally, metabolically, and holistically,\u201d Ross emphasized.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doctify.com\/au\/specialist\/swaroopini-thangarajah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Swaroopini Thangarajah<\/a>, MD, a Doctify-registered general practitioner at HerCare Women\u2019s Health in Australia, also spoke with\u00a0<em>MNT<\/em>\u00a0about the findings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThis is a reassuring and important study for women,\u201d said Thangarajah, noting that lifestyle and cardiovascular factors play a much larger role than menopause itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Thangarajah said that the results have implications for clinical care and can be empowering to women.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cWhile cardiometabolic risk tends to rise after menopause, this study shows that when or how menopause occurs is less important than overall lifestyle and cardiovascular health,\u201d Thangarajah explained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>\u201cThat means women are not powerless,\u201d Thangarajah continued. \u201cMany of the most important risk factors for diabetes and heart disease are within their control.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Thangarajah also emphasized the importance of physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. She also encouraged women to continue with \u201cproactive screening,\u201d which will catch many health issues while they are more manageable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers from Spain recently conducted a study to determine whether the timing of menopause can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The researchers did not find a link between menopause timing and diabetes. While some women who went through early menopause developed type 2 diabetes, the scientists found that this was connected to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1095"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1103,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095\/revisions\/1103"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}