Women living with type 2 diabetes may face more frequent and more severe menopause symptoms than women without diabetes, particularly after menopause, according to new research that highlights a growing but often overlooked health challenge. The findings were published online in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

The study comes at a time when both menopause and type 2 diabetes are affecting increasing numbers of women worldwide. Researchers say the results suggest that doctors treating diabetes should also ask about menopause symptoms, as better recognition could improve women's quality of life.

Researchers studied nearly 300 Korean women aged 40 to 64 years and assessed their symptoms using the Midlife Women's Symptom Index, a standard questionnaire that measures physical, emotional and psychological symptoms linked to menopause. They then compared women with diabetes or prediabetes with those whose blood sugar levels were normal.

Across every stage of menopause, women with diabetes generally reported more menopause symptoms and said those symptoms felt more severe. However, the difference became statistically clear only after menopause, when women with diabetes experienced noticeably greater symptom burden than those without the condition.

Menopause is the stage in a woman's life when monthly periods stop permanently because the ovaries produce much lower levels of hormones such as oestrogen. Many women experience hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood changes, joint pain and tiredness during this transition.

Scientists believe the link is biologically plausible. Hormonal changes during menopause often lead to weight gain, particularly around the waist, making it harder for the body to control blood sugar. In turn, high blood sugar and insulin resistance—the body's reduced ability to respond properly to insulin—may worsen inflammation, disturb sleep and affect blood vessels and nerves, potentially making menopause symptoms feel more intense.

The findings add to earlier research showing a two-way relationship between menopause and diabetes. Previous studies have suggested that early menopause may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while diabetes itself may influence how women experience menopause.

Not all studies, however, have reached identical conclusions. Earlier reviews have reported mixed evidence for some individual symptoms, suggesting that lifestyle, body weight, ethnicity, mental health and access to healthcare may also shape women's menopause experiences. Larger studies that track women over many years are necessary to gain a clearer understanding of how changes in blood sugar impact menopause symptoms, according to researchers. 

The authors conclude that menopause care should become a routine part of diabetes management for women in midlife. They believe that recognising symptoms early and offering appropriate support could help many women stay healthier and maintain a better quality of life as they age.