Ep 145 - Non-Hormonal Options for Perimenopause & Menopause: What Actually Helps (and What Doesn’t)
Release Date: 02/16/2026
Ep 145 - Non-Hormonal Options for Perimenopause & Menopause: What Actually Helps (and What Doesn’t)
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Are there natural or non-hormonal options for managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms—especially if you’re living with type 1 diabetes? This is one of the most common questions I hear from women, and in this solo episode, I’m breaking it down with honesty and realistic expectations. We’ll talk about what non-hormonal options can support, where they fall short, and why the goal isn’t perfection—but steadiness. I share my own experience navigating perimenopause, plus what I’ve seen work (and not work) with the women I coach. In this episode, we cover: When non-hormonal...
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Ep 144 - Why Adulthood Can Be the Loneliest Phase of Type 1 Diabetes—and How Grownup T1Ds Is Changing That
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
What happens when you outgrow pediatric diabetes care—but never outgrow type 1 diabetes? In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Dawes, founder and executive director of Grownup T1Ds, the first nonprofit created specifically to support adults living and aging with type 1 diabetes, including adult-onset diagnosis. Diagnosed in 1981, Kelly brings more than four decades of lived experience alongside her certification through the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES). We talk about why adulthood can be the most isolating phase of type 1, what’s missing for midlife and...
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Ep 143 - Vision Loss, Moving & Midlife: Managing Type 1 Through Big Life Transitions
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
What happens when long-term type 1 diabetes collides with midlife change, vision loss, motherhood, and a major life transition? In this deeply honest and encouraging episode, I sit down with Mary Ann Chamberlain, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 36 years. Diagnosed at age seven, Mary Ann shares her journey through diabetic retinopathy, low vision, parenting, perimenopause, and what it really looks like to rebuild your life—without giving up on yourself. Now in her 40s, Mary Ann opens up about: Growing up with type 1 diabetes before tech, CGMs, or online support Navigating low...
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Ep 142 - 83 Years with Type 1 Between Us: A Conversation with My Husband
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
What does it really look like to live fully with type 1 diabetes—through careers, marriage, athletics, sleepless nights, and decades of daily management? In this episode, I sat down with my husband, David, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. From his diagnosis in his early 20s to a 30-year career in fire rescue, competitive athletics, and life on the water, this conversation is a real-life reminder that a chronic condition does not get the final say. We talk about: Being diagnosed with type 1 as a young adult Managing diabetes in high-stress, high-risk careers Marriage...
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Ep 141 - Basal Settings in Perimenopause: What Pump Users Need to Know
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If your insulin pump suddenly feels harder to manage, morning spikes, overnight drops, or blood sugars that don’t follow the rules, you’re not failing at diabetes. In this episode, we dive into basal insulin challenges for women using insulin pumps during perimenopause. Hormone shifts in estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol can dramatically change insulin sensitivity, even when your pump technology hasn’t changed. You’ll learn: Why pump settings that worked for years may suddenly feel “off” How perimenopause affects basal insulin needs hour by hour When manual mode can be more...
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Ep 140 - Basal Insulin in Perimenopause: What MDI Users Need to Know
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If your basal insulin suddenly feels wrong, morning highs, overnight lows, or afternoons that make no sense, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not failing at diabetes. In this solo episode of the Type 1 in Midlife, I’m breaking down why basal insulin becomes a moving target during perimenopause, especially for women on multiple daily injections (MDI). We’ll talk about how fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol change insulin sensitivity hour by hour—and what you can do about it. I share real client examples, explain why basal timing matters more than ever, and walk...
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Ep 139 - From Hormone Chaos to Clarity: What’s Ahead in 2026
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
In this episode, I’m pressing pause and taking a deep breath. As we step into a new year, I’m reflecting on what 2025 revealed—about hormones, insulin needs, burnout, faith, and what women ith diabetes truly need more of. This year was full of honest conversations about perimenopause, menopause, sleep, cortisol, insulin resistance, and learning to trust your body again. I’m also sharing what’s ahead for 2026: shorter, clearer episodes… more practical “what do I do now?” guidance… and the book I wish I had decades ago. Inside this episode, we cover: Why blood sugars can...
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Ep 138 - When Hormones Meet Insulin: Aisha Coons on Navigating Cycles, Sensitivity & Self-Advocacy
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
In this powerful episode, Melissa sits down with Aisha Coons, medical copywriter, researcher, and creator behind Heed Her Health and Her Homeostasis. Diagnosed with both Type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism at age four, Aisha shares her lifelong journey of learning to balance multiple autoimmune conditions while navigating the hormonal shifts of womanhood. Together, Melissa and Aisha explore: How early diagnosis shaped Aisha’s independence and mindset The connection between thyroid function, insulin needs, and menstrual cycle patterns Why some diabetes technologies can help or...
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Ep 137 - My 2025 Reflections: 3 Changes That Brought More Steady Blood Sugar, Mood & Strength
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
This week, Melissa gets real about the three lessons that shaped her health, her training, and her mindset in 2025 — and how you can carry these into 2026 with less pressure and more clarity. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, sprinting through December, pushing your workouts harder than your body seems to tolerate… this one is going to speak right to you. Inside, she walks through: Why she shifted from HIIT to strength + restorative work How cortisol and midlife physiology change the rules Why doing less actually improve her blood sugar, sleep, mood, and strength How to build a...
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Ep 136 - Fibromyalgia Explained: Causes, Symptoms, and Hope for Women 40+
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If you’ve ever wondered why your fatigue, pain, or brain fog feels bigger than it should — this episode is for you. Melissa sits down with Tami Stackelhouse, award-winning author, founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, host of the Fibromyalgia Podcast®, and executive producer of the feature documentary INVISIBLE. Tami shares her journey from diagnosis to remission and the holistic framework she teaches women to reclaim their lives from chronic pain. Together, they unpack: What fibromyalgia really is (and why it’s so often misunderstood). Why it overlaps...
info_outlineAre there natural or non-hormonal options for managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms—especially if you’re living with type 1 diabetes?
This is one of the most common questions I hear from women, and in this solo episode, I’m breaking it down with honesty and realistic expectations.
We’ll talk about what non-hormonal options can support, where they fall short, and why the goal isn’t perfection—but steadiness. I share my own experience navigating perimenopause, plus what I’ve seen work (and not work) with the women I coach.
In this episode, we cover:
- When non-hormonal options may make sense
- Prescription options that don’t include estrogen or progesterone
- Why sleep, stress regulation, strength training, and nutrition matter no matter what
- Herbs and supplements like magnesium, omega-3s, Vitex, black cohosh, and maca—who they may help and who should be cautious
- Why “natural” doesn’t always mean safe or predictable
- How your hormonal stage changes what works
I also share why I believe lifestyle support is the foundation—whether you eventually choose hormone therapy, non-hormonal options, or a mix of both.
As always, this episode is educational and based on lived experience. Take what you learn here back to your healthcare provider and decide what’s right for your body.
🎧 Mentioned in this episode:
I’m proud to spotlight Diabetes Sisters, a nonprofit offering education, peer support, and community for women living with diabetes.
Visit diabetessisters.org to join—it’s free and a wonderful resource.
👉 Want deeper 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.
https://www.abundanthealthwithmelissa.com/joingroupcoaching2026
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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.