How Your Period Can Affect Your Blood Sugar

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Many of the premenstrual symptoms you associate with your period, such as depression, irritability, bloating, and cravings, are caused by hormonal fluctuations. It’s helpful to understand how your period affects your blood sugar and devise strategies to avoid blood sugar spikes and drops. 

Do Periods Raise Blood Sugar or Lower It?

Whether periods raise or lower blood sugar (glucose) depends on the menstrual cycle phase. Hormone levels and insulin sensitivity change daily and sometimes throughout the day. While there may be trends in insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels, there are no hard and fast guidelines. 

A typical menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, starting with the first day of your period, with ovulation at approximately day 14 and menstruation (period) at days 1–5, unless conception occurs. Menstrual cycles vary from 21 to 35 days from month to month. Most variations in length occur in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.  

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Four key hormones regulate the menstrual cycle: 

The menstrual cycle can be divided into phases, depending on which hormone is dominant. In each phase, your hormone levels and blood sugar may trend up or down.

Key phases of the menstrual cycle:

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