Menstruation in Diabetes Mellitus: A Study from South India

Menstrual disturbances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes and presage cardiovascular risk. Here we assess menstrual pattern in adult women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and correlate with the fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Among 851 consecutive women 516 had normal cycles, 45 menorrhagea, 114 oligomenorrhea, 38 underwent hysterectomy 98 reached menopause and 40 were pregnant. The mean age (yrs) in each group respectively was 33.45 yrs, 33.2, 34.66, 31.39, 38.65, 37.39 and 26.63. Applying Poisson regression risk rate, sedentary women with normal menstruation, amenorrhea and menopause, had higher FPG. Body mass index: lean subjects (<20 kg/m2 ) had higher glucose levels in those with (a) normal cycles (b) oligomenorrhea and who reached menopause. A similar pattern occurred in the overweight and obese (viz those with menorrhagea and oligomenorrhea). In summary, menstrual irregularity, as a surrogate for cardiovascular risk was common in Asian Indian diabetic women from our Centre.