Diabetes hits women hard, especially at midlife. In the United States, it’s the number 6 killer of women ages 45 to 54 and the number 4 killer of women ages 55 to 64. What’s more, diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and many other serious conditions, including blindness, kidney disease, and nerve disease. What’s sad if you don’t die from diabetes but the effects of the disease. Today we are seeing an increase in the number of type II diabetes especially in obese people age 40 and older. Type 1 is less common and usually starts in childhood.

Does menopause increase diabetes risk? That hasn’t been an easy question for researchers to answer. It’s hard to separate the effects of menopause from the effects of age and weight. But it does look like hormones do have something to do with it. If you are a woman over age 50, you’re especially vulnerable, and women pay a heavy price for the disease. They lose more years of life than men with diabetes do. In addition, the death rate for women with diabetes has risen dramatically since the 1970s, while it has not for men with the disease. This can be for many reasons, but for women having high blood pressure develop during pregnancy (preeclampsia), diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), or polycystic ovary syndrome can raise the risk dramatically.

What can you do? Well, here are a few tips – get tested! So many women don’t pay attention to their bodies and the signs. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you get tested every three years starting at age 45. If you have high blood pressure, more often is recommended. Type II diabetes was thought to be family history, but now we know this is lifestyle onset. It can be prevented! Diet and exercise – overweight equals high risk to insulin resistance and type II diabetes. If nothing else, get walking! Weight bearing exercise is highly recommended especially for women and their bones. Being a holistic health coach I highly recommend high quality supplements and the use of essential oils to help regulate the blood sugar. This along with a healthy low glycemic food plan can reduce the levels to a normal range. Pay attention to your body!

I help people overcome their limiting beliefs that are keeping them stuck, broke and unhealthy to create balance, time freedom and restore their health! You can find me at www.livinglifeholistic.com or via email at susano@livinglifeholistic.com

So I can remember the first time I noticed these long hairs on my chin!  What the heck is that and where did it come from?  Do you remember in church the old lady with hair like a mustache or chin hairs that were like all over the place.  Unwanted facial hair can be different for every woman, from a few hairs on the chin, light growth on the upper lip or heavy and beard like. Menopause can be associated with facial hair due to the hormonal changes. Some medications (and certain hormone replacement products) may cause a certain degree of facial hair.  Or to be more precise, the relationship between levels of estrogen and testosterone.

When estrogen predominates a woman’s face typically has fine, short and almost invisible like facial hair.  Men in contrast have the longer coarse darker beard type hair.  The key hormone that controls the hair on the face is dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  The higher the DHT the facial hair goes from invisible to coarse.  As menopause approaches and estrogen levels drop, there’s an increase of DHT in the hair follicle.  This can produce unwanted hair in places like the chin, jaw line, cheeks, and even the forehead!  Just remember that you are not alone.

So when we see that first hair our first instinct is to pluck right?  The problem with that, however, is that plucking can actually stimulate the hair follicle into active growth, which produces more hair.  Shaving, electrolysis, and laser can have their issues and can be expensive.  Do what is right for you and know that this doesn’t last forever.  Menopause is a journey we as women all have to take so embrace the journey.  I help women overcome this journey to see light on the other side.  I am passionate about helping women in menopause with natural solutions without side effects.

You can find me at www.livinglifeholistic.com or via email at susano@livinglifeholistic.com sign up for my free smoothies and newsletter!

With the exception of puberty, there is no more challenging time for your skin than when you go through menopause. Like opposing forces of nature, your skin must battle against both breakouts and wrinkles, giving you definite obstacles when it comes to choosing treatments and products. This is a time of hormonal shifts that play a major role in your skin changes. Surges of testosterone cause acne, not only on the face but anywhere else, including the back and chest. Stress also creates precursors to hormones, which serve to increase breakouts. I did not have an acne problem during puberty. An occasional breakout, and this was true for me of menopause. What I did get was very dry skin…all over!

The same hormonal shifts that are giving you prepubescent skin issues are working on the other side of the spectrum to break down your collagen and elastin and thin the dermis, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Women going through this time in their life may also notice their skin lacks luster and radiance and becomes looser than before. On another note, many women also experience hair and nail changes. Nails become more brittle, while hair may thin and lack vitality. I am not sure about the looser skin, but I do have much finer hair now and my very curly hair is getting straighter. Although, my nails grow like crazy and are very strong. I eat healthy and take exceptional supplements. So, what’s a woman to do? While this may seem almost hopeless, there are several things you can do to restore balance to your body and your skin.

So if you have been reading my blogs, you know I am a big proponent of exercise. It may seem like you hear it a lot and blah, blah blah…but exercise is critical. There is varying differences as to how much and how long. If you are walking, then 20-30 minutes daily. For burst training, more like 3 times a week for 15-20 minutes. Exercise increases your circulation, gets oxygen to your tissues and muscles. It helps produce your happy hormone as well and it does your skin good!

You are what you eat. I highly recommend a low glycemic Paleo food plan. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Make it a goal to get 40 percent of your diet from lean protein and 30 percent from healthy fats. Do not cut all the fat out of your diet as your body needs fat to function. There is a difference between good and bad fat though. And you know I am a water drinker! You can add fresh fruit or make your own lemonade, but drink water. Every body function requires water and your skin needs it to retain its glow. I love to help others get back to balance through my coaching and essential oils. You can find me at www.livinglifeholistic.com and sign up for my free green smoothies to connect! To your health!

The relationship between estrogen and breast cancer is complicated and not entirely understood. Most oncologists prefer to minimize a breast cancer survivor’s exposure to estrogen. So estrogen or hormone therapy is not recommended for most women with breast cancer. The question of whether dietary sources of weak estrogens, such as soy, are safe for these women is also uncertain. There are vocal experts on either side of the fence.   With that said, there are options to help all women with symptoms from menopause.  I believe that the holistic lifestyle is a plus for women and cancer.  You have many choices and need to do your research as to what will work for you.  I always encourage women to try a new modality and if there is benefit then continue.  There is an organization called the North American Menopause Society which can be used for references and practitioners.  I choose those who encourage the use of alternative medicine in their practice.

Secondly, hair loss is a very troubling symptom that can be caused by drugs, some diseases, hormone changes, cancer or cancer drugs and or stress.  Often women lose hair after a stressful time in their life. Sometimes hormones play a role. Using products on the scalp which do not contain harmful chemicals is crucial.  I would highly recommend using a natural product or essential oils as the scalp is a doorway to the brain and body.

Lastly, vaginal dryness is a common menopausal complaint. There are many over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers that can help.  Be very careful of the ingredients, again here is an area that is not only sensitive but a direct conduit to the blood stream.  Local vaginal estrogen comes in three forms: Estring which is an estradiol vaginal ring, a flexible ring inserted in the vagina that releases a small amount of estrogen over three months; Vagifem, a very low-dose vaginal tablet placed in the vagina twice weekly; and a variety of estrogen creams. These do not send much estrogen into the bloodstream, and most oncologists will approve their use.  Again, be sure to talk to your doctor as to what you can or cannot use.  There is no need to suffer though so speak up!  I am a holistic health coach specializing in essential oils and menopause.  If you would like to know more me and my coaching please check out my website at www.livinglifeholistic.com and sign up for my free green smoothie receipes!