Navigating Metabolic Shifts: Why Postmenopausal Women Needโ Proactive Health Management
The period following menopause marks a meaningful shift in a woman’s health landscape, notably increasing the risk of developing conditions like diabetes โฃand related metabolic issues. This is largely dueโฃ to the decline in protective hormones, particularly estrogen, which impacts fat distributionโข and increases susceptibility to fatty liver disease.Despite this heightened risk, โขdata from Germany indicates postmenopausal women are frequently โenoughโข undertreated accordingโ to established โคguidelines โfor managing cholesterol and blood โฃpressure – key factors inโข preventing heart attack โขand stroke.
As estrogen levels fall, the body’s fat โdistribution changes, contributing to a noticeable rise in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Before menopause, womenโ experience MASLDโ at roughlyโ half the rate of men, but this disparity diminishesโค significantly after menopause. โคProgressive liver fibrosis is increasingly observed, especially in women also experiencing insulin resistance or โdiabetes, โฃaccordingโข to experts like Professor Dr. med. Johannes szendrรถdi, President of the German Diabetes Society (DDG).
Recognizing this interconnectedness, โspecialist societies recommend โregular health screenings for โฃpostmenopausal women. These should begin with blood tests and simple scoring systems, progressing to ultrasound or โelastographyโ ifโข abnormalities are detected. “The heart and liver age together with the metabolism. The โขmenopause is the moment when prevention has to start again,” emphasizes Professorโ Szendrรถdi.
While hormone replacement therapy can offer metabolic benefits, it โisn’t a global solution. It’s most appropriate for โขwomen experiencing severe menopausal symptoms and with a low risk ofโ vascular issues, requiring a thorough individual risk assessment.โข However,โ Professor Szendrรถdi โคstresses that “exercise is more important than hormone replacement preparations.” Muscle training, performedโ 2-3 times weekly alongside endurance โฃactivities, demonstrably increases insulin sensitivity, โlowers blood sugar, and provides lasting โคprotection for the heart and blood vessels – all without the potential side effects of โmedication.
Here are key steps women can take to โproactively manage their health after menopause:
* Regular Health Checks: Monitor blood sugar, blood lipids, blood pressure,โฃ and liver values.
* Prioritize Exercise: โคincorporate targeted muscle โtraining 2-3 times a week, complemented by โendurance activities.
*โ Nutritious Diet: Focus on a diet rich in vegetables, fiber, and healthy vegetable fats, while limiting sugar and processed foods.
* Restful Sleepโ & Stress Management: Prioritize adequate sleep and effective โขstress reduction โฃtechniquesโ to supportโ metabolic health.
* Individualized Medical Consultation: Discuss the potential benefits andโ risks โฃof hormone therapy with โa healthcare professional.
“Knowledge isโ the first step โขtowards prevention,” concludes Professor Szendrรถdi. “If you understand โขhow the body changes, you can take targeted countermeasures and use the menopause as an possibility. โIt isโข a turningโค point โข- โขand the beginningโฃ of a new phase of strength.”
The DDG recently presented current scientific findings on โฃmenopause and diabetes, alongside โขother aspects of women’s health and their connection to diabetes, at a press โconference. the 2025 Diabetes Autumn Conference, โฃledโ by โขProfessor Dr.med. Karsten Mรผssig,conference โpresident and chief physician โat the Clinic for Internal Medicine,Gastroenterologyโฃ and Diabetology at the Franziskus Hospital Harderberg of the Niels Stensen Clinics,specifically focused on critical lifeโฃ phases – including puberty,pregnancy,andโฃ menopause – โขand the interplay between hormones and diabetes.
(Source: diabetes risk image provided by Monika Gause for www.diabsite.de)
(Last edited: 12.11.2025)
