Menopause, the dreaded stage in a woman’s life, where she undergoes all forms of changes both physically and mentally. Well, to add to these woes, research has discovered another unpleasant facet of the physiological condition. The timing of menopause may actually increase a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The research study led by Eric LeBlanc (a researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research) and his team analyzed 124 379 women who were between the ages of 50 and 79. The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative that is developing preventive strategies for breast cancer, colon cancer, and heart disease.

Well, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is given in statistical numbers, of course. The women who had the longest reproductive period (> 45 years) had a 23% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Women with the shortest reproductive period (< 30 years) had a 37% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“The authors concluded that menopause that occurs before the age of 46 or after the age of 55 increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.”

At the same time, regularity of periods or the age at which menstruation begins had no impact on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The authors suggest that women with longer or shorter reproductive cycles should seek counseling for lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a healthy diet, in order to avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes.