Are your blood sugars harder to manage than they used to be?

You may be blaming your diabetes, your food choices, or your insulin settings.

But what if estrogen is part of the story?

In this first episode of a three-part hormone series inspired by Chapter 4 of my book Highs, Lows & Hormones, we're taking a deep dive into estrogen and the many ways it impacts women in midlife.

You'll learn:

✔ Why estrogen is far more than a reproductive hormone

✔ Common signs of low estrogen

✔ How estrogen influences insulin sensitivity and blood sugar management

✔ Why rising fasting glucose can be an early clue that hormones are shifting

✔ What improved estrogen levels may feel like

✔ Can you have too much estrogen?

✔ Why symptom tracking matters more than chasing a perfect lab number

✔ Questions to discuss with your healthcare provider

Most importantly, you'll learn how to start connecting your symptoms to possible hormone changes so you can become a more confident advocate for your health.

This episode is based on the Symptom & Hormone Matching Guide found in Chapter 4 of Highs, Lows & Hormones, along with the companion symptom-tracking resources available with the book

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another woman who needs this conversation today.

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

Returning guest Mary Ann Chamberlain is back for an honest conversation about what life with type 1 diabetes looks like after more than 36 years.

If you haven't already, be sure to go back and listen to Episode 143, where Mary Ann shares her diagnosis story, life transitions, and the journey that has shaped who she is today.

In this episode, we're simply catching up as two women living with type 1 diabetes. We talk about everything from new diabetes technology and hormone health to navigating complications, advocacy, burnout, and why community matters more than ever.

Mary Ann opens up about living with diabetic retinopathy and low vision, moving to a new city, beginning a new career, and finding purpose through advocacy. We also discuss the latest diabetes innovations, the excitement surrounding cure research, and how to hold space for the many emotions those headlines can bring.

Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that while diabetes may be part of our story, it doesn't define the whole story.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Mary Ann's new chapter after relocating to Denver
• Living with type 1 diabetes and low vision
• Why hormone health deserves more attention for women with T1D
• The latest advances in diabetes technology
• Thoughts on cure research and the emotions surrounding it
• Diabetes burnout and the mental load of daily management
• Long-term complications and why these conversations matter
• Learning to advocate for yourself within today's healthcare system
• Finding hope, purpose, and community after decades with type 1 diabetes

Connect with Mary Ann Chamberlain: Instagram: @owningt1dwithma

🎧 Be sure to listen to Episode 143 to hear Mary Ann's original story and then come back to this conversation to see just how much life has continued to evolve.

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything "right" with your diabetes management, but your blood sugars still seem unpredictable?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brooke Shelton, Doctor of Physical Therapy, educator, founder of Dynamic Diabetes, and someone who has personally lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years.

Together, we explore a topic that doesn't get enough attention in the diabetes community: nervous system regulation.

Brooke explains how chronic stress, diabetes management, fluctuating blood sugars, hormonal changes, and even exercise can keep us stuck in a constant state of fight-or-flight. We discuss how this affects insulin resistance, energy levels, sleep quality, recovery, and ultimately how we feel every day.

You'll learn:

• The difference between fight-or-flight, rest-and-digest, and the often-overlooked freeze response • Why diabetes itself can create ongoing nervous system stress • How chronic stress contributes to stubborn high blood sugars • Practical ways to regulate your nervous system throughout the day • Why sleep may be one of the most important health tools you're overlooking • How exercise needs change throughout your menstrual cycle and during perimenopause • The connection between hormones, insulin resistance, and burnout • Simple "movement snacks" and recovery strategies that can help you feel better without doing more

We also discuss cycle syncing and how adjusting your movement based on where you are in your cycle can support blood sugar management, recovery, and overall well-being.

This is a concept I cover in Chapter 8 of my book, Highs, Lows & Hormones: A Survival Guide for Women Managing Diabetes from Monthly Cycles to Menopause, in the chapter titled Movement That Matches Your Hormones.

If you've ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or like your body isn't responding the way it used to, this conversation will remind you that there is nothing wrong with you. Your body is doing exactly what it was designed to do—and learning to work with it instead of against it can be a game changer.

Purchase Highs, Lows & Hormones and connect with Melissa through the links in today's show notes.

Connect with Dr. Brook Shelton:

IG @dynamic.diabetes

Website: Dynamic Diabetes

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

What does it really look like to live 50 years with type 1 diabetes?

In this episode, I sit down with Ruth Collin, who was diagnosed at just five years old and is now marking five decades of life with type 1. From glass syringes in the 1970s to today's closed-loop technology, Ruth shares how diabetes care—and her mindset—has evolved.

We talk about:

• How technology has transformed diabetes management
• The emotional side of living with type 1 long-term
• Hormones, stress, and midlife changes
• What "good enough" really means with blood sugar
• Why community and shared stories matter more than ever

Ruth also shares why she started her podcast, The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, and how hearing others' stories has shaped her perspective on resilience, identity, and hope.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or like you're doing everything "right" but your numbers say otherwise—this conversation will remind you: you're not alone, and there's wisdom in taking the long view.

Connect with Ruth Collin

Podcast: The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Website: The Long View

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

Have you ever looked at your body and thought, "I don't understand what's happening anymore?"

In this episode of the Type 1 in Midlife Podcast, I'm sharing a powerful conversation from inside our Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle about stubborn weight gain in midlife — especially when hormones, thyroid health, stress, sleep, insulin resistance, and type 1 diabetes all collide at the same time.

One of our members opened up honestly about gaining 20 stubborn pounds despite eating well, exercising, tracking her blood sugars, and trying so hard to "do everything right." And honestly? So many women in the room nodded in agreement.

Because this isn't simply about eating less and exercising more.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why midlife hormones can dramatically impact metabolism
• The connection between estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and insulin resistance
• How sleep disruption and cortisol affect fat storage
• Why strength training matters more than endless cardio after 40
• How thyroid medication and hormone therapy can interact
• Why increasing insulin needs may signal hormonal shifts
• The emotional toll of feeling uncomfortable in your changing body
• Why your body is not broken — and what it may actually be trying to tell you

This is a validating, educational conversation for women living with type 1 diabetes who feel frustrated, confused, or discouraged by the changes happening in midlife.

You are not failing, you are not imagining it, and you are definitely not alone.

✨ Learn more about my book Highs, Lows & Hormones: A Survival Guide for Women Managing Diabetes from Monthly Cycles to Menopause and explore resources designed specifically for women navigating hormones and diabetes.

✨ Interested in support and community? Learn more about the Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle where women gather to learn, ask questions, and feel understood.

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another woman who needs this conversation today.

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

What happens when perimenopause collides with type 1 diabetes?

For many women, the answer is confusion, frustration, and feeling like they're suddenly managing a completely different body.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Sascha Vrolijk, founder of Project M(e) and host of the Perimenopause Unfiltered podcast. Sascha shares her personal journey of experiencing brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion, and unpredictable blood sugars that ultimately led her to leave a demanding career before discovering that perimenopause was at the root of many of her symptoms.

Together, they discuss:

• The symptoms that made Sascha realize something wasn't right • Why so many women are unprepared for perimenopause • How hormonal changes can impact blood sugar management with type 1 diabetes • The emotional toll of feeling unlike yourself • Why self-advocacy matters in healthcare • How to prepare for productive conversations with your doctor • Common hormone therapy concerns and misconceptions • The importance of finding a provider who listens and collaborates • Why sharing our stories helps other women feel less alone

Whether you're beginning to notice changes in your cycle, struggling with unexplained blood sugar swings, or simply wondering if hormones could be playing a role in how you feel, this conversation offers validation, practical insights, and encouragement.

Remember: You're not imagining it. Hormones matter and understanding what's happening in your body is the first step toward feeling more confident and in control.

Connect with Sascha Vrolijk

Website https://www.myproject-me.com/

Podcast Perimenopause Unfiltered

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

What happens when you're told you have type 2 diabetes… but your body keeps telling you something isn't right?

In today's conversation, I'm joined by Linnea May Huxford, author of the book Success with LADA Diabetes, as we unpack one of the most misunderstood forms of diabetes: LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults).

Linnea shares her personal story of being misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 31 years old, despite having classic symptoms of autoimmune diabetes. We discuss the emotional toll of delayed diagnosis, the importance of proper testing, and why so many adults are still falling through the cracks.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• What LADA diabetes actually is
• Why adults are often misdiagnosed as type 2
• Important testing: antibody panels + C-peptide
• Why insulin is not something to fear
• CGMs, pumps, and learning to "sugar surf"
• Hormones, perimenopause, and insulin resistance
• Mental health and diabetes burnout
• The difference between managing diabetes and micromanaging it
• Why women especially experience more unpredictable blood sugars during hormone shifts
• The importance of community, advocacy, and self-trust

This conversation is compassionate, educational, and deeply validating for anyone living with insulin-dependent diabetes—especially women navigating midlife hormone changes.

Linnea also shares why she believes earlier diagnosis and awareness could dramatically change long-term outcomes for millions of people living with LADA worldwide.

Connect with Linnea May Huxford:

Her book: Success with LADA Diabetes: Achieving Optimal Health with Diet, Exercise, and Insulin

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LinneaMayHuxford

Website: InsulinPumpLife.com

🎧 Share this episode with someone who needs hope and community today.

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

For years, I thought I was failing at diabetes every single month.

Same meals. Same insulin. Same workouts. Yet suddenly my blood sugars were higher, corrections stopped working, cravings intensified, and I felt exhausted trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

Then I learned the truth: Hormones change insulin sensitivity.

In this episode of the Type 1 in Midlife Podcast, we're talking about why blood sugars often become more difficult to manage during the luteal phase — the 7–14 days before your period begins — and how progesterone can increase insulin resistance, impact fasting glucose, cravings, sleep, and stress response.

Inside this conversation:

• Why insulin suddenly feels "weaker" before your cycle • Common blood sugar patterns women experience before a period • Higher fasting numbers and stubborn post-meal highs • Cravings, sleep disruption, and lower HRV • How to track your cycle without becoming obsessive • Why understanding patterns reduces fear and self-blame

If you've ever felt like you have "two versions" of diabetes every month, this episode will help you feel seen, validated, and informed.

This conversation is also a sneak peek into my upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, releasing May 27, 2026 — created to help women better understand the connection between hormones, blood sugar, and life transitions from monthly cycles to menopause.

Resources + Next Steps

My upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, goes deeper into this—helping you understand how your cycle, hormones, sleep, and insulin all work together so you can stop guessing and start responding with confidence.

👉 Order Your Book: Highs, Lows, & Hormones 👉 Connect with other women inside the Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle

Connect with Melissa Slemp:

Follow on:

Instagram

Tik Tok

YouTube

Linkedin

Check out Melissa's website

Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones

Connect with other like-minded women in a supportive group coaching community:

Type 1 In Midlife Coaching Circle

Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

If your morning number has started creeping up—even though you haven't changed anything—you are not imagining it.

This is one of the most common patterns I see in women with type 1 diabetes moving through their 40s and beyond.

And it's not about doing more or trying harder.

It's physiology.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why fasting blood sugar is often the first place midlife hormone shifts show up—and what's actually happening overnight in your body.

Because when you understand the "why," you can respond with clarity instead of frustration.

What You'll Learn:

• How declining estrogen impacts insulin sensitivity overnight
• Why cortisol rises earlier and stronger in midlife
• How the dawn phenomenon becomes more pronounced
• The role of progesterone shifts in blood sugar variability
• Why muscle loss affects overnight glucose regulation
• How sleep disruption directly raises fasting blood sugar

Why This Matters

Morning blood sugar is often the first signal that something is shifting hormonally.

And too often, women blame themselves. But this isn't failure, it's your body asking for a different approach.

What You Can Start Doing:

• Build and protect muscle with strength training
• Prioritize protein at dinner to support overnight stability
• Improve sleep quality to lower cortisol response
• Evaluate basal insulin needs (this often changes in midlife)
• Track patterns across your cycle or symptom shifts

A Personal Note

After 40+ years of living with type 1 diabetes, I've seen how quickly things can change in this season. What used to work… stops working, and that can feel discouraging.

But it's also where deeper understanding begins.

Resources + Next Steps

My upcoming book, Highs, Lows & Hormones, goes deeper into this—helping you understand how your cycle, hormones, sleep, and insulin all work together so you can stop guessing and start responding with confidence.

👉 Join the waitlist + get my free Type 1 + Hormone Support Guide 👉 Connect with other women inside the Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle

What to do now:

*Join the book pre-launch list for early access, bonuses, and 2026 launch updates. Grab my free guide, HRT and Type 1 Diabetes Everything I wish I knew in perimenopause.

*Follow me IG @Type1.in.midlife stay in the loop on upcoming episodes. DM me with any feedback or suggestions on topics you'd like us to cover.

*Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.

What happens when the routines that once worked for your Type 1 diabetes suddenly stop working?

In this episode, Melissa sits down with Alyssa Chapman, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 34 and has now lived with it for nearly 17 years. Together, they talk about what it looks like to manage diabetes through midlife, especially when hormone shifts begin affecting blood sugar, energy, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

Alyssa shares her experience of being diagnosed later in life, navigating the emotional side of diabetes, learning to recognize hormone-related blood sugar patterns, and discovering the value of tracking symptoms instead of only chasing numbers.

This is also a conversation about something many women need more of: support. Alyssa hosts a monthly meetup through DiabetesSisters and shares why being around other women who truly understand can make such a difference.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What it was like being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 34
• The classic symptoms Alyssa noticed before diagnosis
• Why adult diagnosis can sometimes be missed or misunderstood
• The fear of eating and dosing insulin in the early days
• How hormones started changing her blood sugar patterns in midlife
• What she noticed around her cycle and insulin sensitivity
• Tracking symptoms and discovering patterns with progesterone
• The emotional weight of fearing high blood sugars
• Letting go of perfection and micromanagement
• Using the Omnipod and Dexcom while learning to trust the system more
• The importance of finding providers who actually listen
• Why women need community support while navigating Type 1 in midlife
• Alyssa's role hosting a monthly DiabetesSisters support meetup

Want deeper support?

If you or someone you love is navigating life with diabetes, visit diabetessisters.org to become a member. It's free to join and free to use, and it's a great place to find community and support.

Learn more about my Type 1 in Midlife Coaching Circle, where we meet weekly and focus on one area of health each month to support hormones, blood sugar, and long-term wellbeing.

Connect with Alyssa Chapman on IG @midlifet1d

Hit the subscribe button and rate and review to help this podcast reach more people. Be sure to share this episode.

What to do now:

*Join the book pre-launch list for early access, bonuses, and 2026 launch updates. Grab my free guide, HRT and Type 1 Diabetes Everything I wish I knew in perimenopause.

*Follow me IG @Type1.in.midlife stay in the loop on upcoming episodes. DM me with any feedback or suggestions on topics you'd like us to cover.

*Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community and support.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.