🎙️ Peri-Normal Podcast: The Perimenopausal Glucose Diaries: Insulin Resistance and CGMs
Welcome back to the Paranormal Podcast! In this episode, Steph dives into the wild ride of perimenopause, neurodivergence, and midlife—sharing her personal journey with glucose monitoring, hormone therapy, and the realities of being a single parent with ADHD.
What’s Inside:
- Real talk about perimenopausal weight gain, hormone changes, and why the old tricks don’t always work anymore
- Steph’s experience with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and what she’s learned from tracking her data
- The emotional rollercoaster of health advocacy, stress, and self-acceptance
Key Takeaways from Steph’s Glucose Tracking:
- 🍦 Some foods that should spike glucose (like ice cream) didn’t, while “healthy” foods (like oatmeal and rice) did—context and meal composition matter!
- 🥗 Adding protein and fiber to every meal helps prevent glucose spikes
- ⏰ Eating smaller, regular meals throughout the day keeps glucose more stable (no more skipping breakfast!)
- 🧘♀️ Stress has a direct impact on glucose—both daily stress and even nightmares can cause spikes
- 😴 Sleep quality and glucose are linked; tracking both gives a fuller picture of health
- 🔄 Steph sometimes experiences hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), not just high—perimenopause and hormones can make things unpredictable
- 🧠 She’s learned to trust her body’s signals: feeling flustered or tired often matches up with glucose data
- 🏋️♀️ Moving more (even if it’s just dancing in the kitchen) and experimenting with carb cycling has helped with both mood and weight
Steph’s Tips for Navigating Perimenopausal Glucose Changes:
- Eat breakfast—even if you don’t feel like it
- Pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods (everyone’s different!)
- Add protein and fiber to every meal
- Move your body in ways that feel good (housework counts!)
- Don’t be afraid to experiment and track your own data
Resources & Links:
Connect with Steph:
- Leave a comment or review—your feedback means the world!
- Follow Steph on Instagram: @stephsprenger or Substack
- Got questions? Reach out and join the conversation!
