Key result
In 243 women with Type 1 Diabetes, worsening cardiovascular risk factors during the menopausal transition were consistent with chronological aging rather than the transition itself.
Why the study?
Women with T1D have an increased risk of CVD, but whether CVD risk factors worsen during the menopausal transition is unclear.
Do cardiovascular risk factors worsen during the menopausal transition in women with Type 1 Diabetes?
Observational (n=243)
Do cardiovascular risk factors worsen during the menopausal transition in women with Type 1 Diabetes?
In women with Type 1 Diabetes, worsening of cardiovascular risk factors during menopause is consistent with chronological aging rather than the menopausal transition itself.
Should not yet alter menopause management in T1D; extends evidence that CVD risk tracks aging rather than transition.
Introduction and Objective: Women with T1D have increased risk of CVD. Whether CVD risk factors worsen during the menopausal transition is unclear. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of women who had undergone natural menopause (n=243) in the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study (EDIC), a prospective observational study of persons with T1D originally enrolled in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. Risk factors were assessed annually or biannually. We examined risk factors relation to the final menstrual period and fit linear models, consistent with chronologic aging, as well as piecewise models that would capture ovarian aging. Covariates included age at menopause, race, body mass index (BMI) at EDIC baseline, smoking, anti-hypertensives and lipid lowering medications, randomization group, complications at DCCT baseline (primary vs. secondary cohort), and exogenous estrogen use. Results: Although several CVD risk factors worsened during the menopausal transition, patterns of change were consistent with chronological aging and medication use. Despite suboptimal glycemic control, insulin dosing was lower postmenopause than premenopause. Conclusion: Women with T1D have worsening CVD risk factors during menopause consistent with chronologic aging. The high risk of CVD in women with T1D is unlikely due to adverse CVD risk factor changes during menopause. Disclosure C. Kim: None. D. Appiah: None. Z. Yin: None. J. Snell-Bergeon: None. E. Codner: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R56HL169167)
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Kim et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) (n=243). Menopausal transition vs. Premenopause was evaluated on Cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors. In 243 women with Type 1 Diabetes, worsening cardiovascular risk factors during the menopausal transition were consistent with chronological aging rather than the transition itself.
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