Women’s Health Unwrapped

Episode 132:

Why blood sugar balance matters in menopause

Do you experience energy crashes, cravings or that familiar mid-afternoon slump that leaves you reaching for something sweet?

Photo of Nicola Farndell standing in a black blazer and cream t-shirt next to some green plants, the host of the Women's Health Unwrapped podcast show.

“What I love about conversations like this is how they open the door for women to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. We’re not saying ‘cut this out’ or ‘follow this rule’ — it’s about tuning in, understanding your body’s signals, and building small habits that make you feel better day by day. That’s what real health looks like.”

— Nicola Farndell

Photo of Beverley Mazza a guest on the Women's Health Unwrapped podcast speaking about blood sugar control in midlife and menopause.

“Even as a nurse, I didn’t realise just how much my blood sugar was impacting how I felt — until I started tracking it. I thought I was reacting to food sensitivities, but what I discovered was that my glucose was spiking and crashing, and that was what was driving my energy dips, cravings and foggy thinking. Now, I’m much more tuned in to what my body needs — and it’s not about being perfect. It’s about balance.”

— Beverly Mazza

In this episode of Women’s Health Unwrapped:

If you’re experiencing regular cravings and energy crashes, you’re not alone — and your blood sugar might have more to do with it than you realise.

In this episode, I’m joined by Beverly Mazza, a Registered Nurse and Integrative Health Consultant, to explore the powerful connection between blood sugar regulation, metabolic health, and hormonal changes in midlife. Bev shares her own health journey and explains why so many women in perimenopause and menopause are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, and poor sleep — even when they’re trying to do “all the right things”.

We go far beyond food in this conversation. Bev unpacks how stress, sleep, and movement impact your blood sugar just as much as your meals — and why it's time to stop chasing diets and start building sustainable habits that support your whole health.

If you’re feeling frustrated with your energy, mood or weight, this episode will help you understand why, and what you can do about it.

The key highlights from our conversation are:

  • Why blood sugar regulation is crucial for women’s health, especially during menopause.

  • How insulin works and what happens when your body becomes more resistant to it.

  • The hidden impact of hormone shifts on energy, cravings and metabolism.

  • Why stress and poor sleep can spike your blood sugar (even if you’re eating well).

  • The power of a holistic approach to managing blood sugar — not just focusing on food.

  • What Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) can reveal — and how to use the data wisely.

  • How to build more nutrient-dense meals without obsessing over calories.

  • The truth about midlife weight gain and why it’s not your fault.

  • Why women often experience different glucose responses as they age

About Beverly Mazza:

Beverly Mazza, BSN, RN, NC-BC, is a Registered Nurse, Board-Certified Nurse Coach, and Integrative Health Consultant, specialising in helping perimenopausal and menopausal women with prediabetes achieve better blood sugar control and sustainable weight loss. Bev combines nursing expertise, functional medicine principles, nutrition, and mindfulness with her advanced knowledge of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data interpretation to provide personalised strategies to address the unique metabolic challenges of midlife women.

As the founder of Purely Present Health, Bev leverages her nursing background, functional medicine training, and holistic coaching techniques to deliver customised programmes that empower clients to lower blood sugar, manage stress, and improve overall health for lasting change.

Connect with Bev:

Website

Instagram

Get Bev’s FREE ‘The Complete Prediabetes Checklist: 10 Steps to Lower Blood Sugar for Women in Perimenopause’

Struggling with sugar cravings?

Wish you could ditch these cravings and feel more energised?

In my FREE menopause guide I share 10 proven tips to help you build healthier habits, including ones to build healthier habits around food so that you can feel fuller, more satisfied and help to balance your hormones.

Download my free guide right now:

‘10 Ways to Feel Good Again: Your Perimenopausal Revival Guide’

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