Could blood sugar be the missing piece in your midlife health?
Are you doing everything "right" but still feeling exhausted, foggy, or stuck in a body that doesn’t feel like your own? Maybe you’ve put on weight but haven’t changed anything in your lifestyle? You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.
What if the real issue isn’t your willpower, but your blood sugar?
In this blog, based on an episode of Women’s Health Unwrapped with nurse and integrative health consultant Beverly Mazza, we explore how blood sugar balance could be the key to finally feeling good again in perimenopause and beyond.
Why the same habits aren’t working anymore
You’re eating well, moving your body, trying to sleep more — but nothing’s shifting. Midlife brings hormonal changes that alter how your body responds to food, stress, and movement. What used to work no longer does, and it’s incredibly frustrating.
Understanding what’s really going on inside
Declining oestrogen levels make us more sensitive to glucose. The result? You may develop insulin resistance without even realising it. Blood sugar spikes can lead to energy crashes, mood swings, cravings, and disrupted sleep. Over time, they increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other long-term conditions.
What is blood sugar and why does it matter in menopause?
Meet insulin – your unsung hormone hero: When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose. This goes for any type of carbs - the simple type like sugars, the starches and the complex fibre ones. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, acts like a key to help shuttle that glucose into your cells for energy. But when there's too much glucose too often, the system starts to falter — and insulin resistance creeps in.
Spikes, crashes and the rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for: The blood sugar “rollercoaster” isn’t just a phrase — it’s a real pattern in your body. High spikes followed by sharp drops make you feel hungry, tired, irritable, and more likely to crave sugar again. The goal isn’t a flatline, but gentle “rolling hills” that keep you steady and energised.
Continuous Blood Glucose monitors, known as CGMs, can be a powerful tool to gain more accurate data and insights into your blood sugar and key health markers.
It’s not just food: Other surprising causes of blood sugar imbalance
Stress, sleep and your nervous system: Your body reacts to stress with cortisol, which triggers the liver to release glucose. That means even if you haven’t eaten, your blood sugar can rise. Poor sleep has a similar effect, disrupting your hunger hormones and increasing cravings the next day.
Your hormones are changing – so your habits should too: Menopause isn’t a failure of your body — it’s a transition. But the old advice of “eat less and move more” doesn’t work here. Now’s the time to start working with your body, not against it.
Why you’re not losing weight (And it’s not your fault)
Insulin resistance and midlife metabolism: When insulin is always high, your body struggles to burn fat. That’s why you can be eating healthily but still gaining weight, especially around your middle. This isn’t about laziness or lack of willpower — it’s physiology.
Stop counting calories – start feeding your body: Instead of cutting back, start crowding in. Prioritise protein, fibre, and healthy fats. These nutrients support steady energy, reduce cravings, and help your body build lean muscle — another crucial factor in long-term blood sugar balance.
Bev told me: “So many women are restricting calories and still struggling — because it’s not about how much you eat, it’s about how your body is processing it.”
Rethinking your approach: Small steps, lasting change
Here are three habits to help you feel better. These habits if embed into your toolkit can help you to reduce cravings, create those lovely rolling hills of energy — no mid-afternoon slump — and support weight management (whatever your personal goal might be). The good news is that you don’t need a complete life overhaul. You can start small with any one of these and work on making it a natural part of your day / week and life.
Have a protein-rich breakfast within 1–2 hours of waking. Think about putting in the right type of fuel to give out the high energy you’re after.
Add strength training into your week. Start with something cheap and accessible at home like resistance bands or dumbbells using free workouts on YouTube.
Walk for just 5 to 10 minutes after meals to support blood sugar regulation.
Why data helps – but you don’t need a monitor to get started
Continuous glucose monitors can be great tools — but they’re not essential. Your body gives you feedback every day. Pay attention to your energy, your mood, and your hunger. They’re often better indicators than the number on a scale.
The world we live in means tech wearables like CGMs are everywhere and the message we’re being pushed is that we need gadgets like this to “fix” ourselves. Although many of these gadgets can give valuable insights — and in the accompanying podcast episode Bev talks about how she uses them with her clients for data and insights — we can make positive changes to how we feel and improve our long-term health without them.
Using them is a personal choice, often determined by affordability and preference over such kinds of tech.
You deserve to feel good now — and later
This is your time to take back control. Not through punishing diets or guilt, but through self-awareness, support, and small shifts that make a big difference.
You’re not broken — your body is just asking for a different kind of care.
What’s one change you could make this week to support your blood sugar? Let me know on Instagram or linkedIn — or message me if you’re not sure where to start. I’d be happy to have a chat with you and see what guidance I can provide. It’s okay to find making changes to your health overwhelming.
Listen to the podcast episode with Beverly Mazza on taking control of your blood sugar:
Like this topic? Find out more with these additional FREE resources:
Find out more about insulin resistance and improving blood sugar control in this article from Zoe Science & Nutrition
Take a look at this article from Stella sharing more insights on blood sugar in menopause
Listen to this podcast with my guest Hilary Meisner on the blood sugar rollercoaster
Read this article from Newson Health about Menopause & Diabetes
Are you struggling with sugar cravings?
In my FREE menopause guide I share 10 proven tips to help you build healthier habits, including ones to improve your diet so you feel fuller, more satisfied and help to balance your hormones.
‘10 Ways to Feel Good Again: Your Perimenopausal Revival Guide’
