The link between your menstrual cycle and glucose

Published: Jun. 26, 2025

4 min read

Table of contents

The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.

If you experience a menstrual cycle, you may have already noticed that how you feel, physically and emotionally, can shift from week to week. And if you're using a glucose biosensor like Stelo, those shifts might be visible in your glucose patterns too.

Recent research confirms what many have observed firsthand: your menstrual cycle can affect your glucose levels. Here's what that means for you:

Hormonal changes influence how your body uses glucose
Glucose levels naturally rise and fall across the cycle
Recognizing these patterns can help you make more informed choices about your glucose health

A quick refresher on the menstrual cycle

To understand the link between hormones and glucose, it helps to start with the basics of the menstrual cycle. While every cycle is unique, it’s generally divided into four phases:

Menstrual phase (days 1–5) 

The cycle begins with bleeding as the uterine lining sheds. Estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest.

Follicular phase (days 1–13) 

Overlapping with the menstrual phase, here the body produces predominately follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen levels rise, and follicles develop in the ovary.

Ovulation (around day 14) 

Triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), an egg is released from the dominant follicle. This is typically the most fertile window.

Luteal phase (days 15–28) 

After ovulation, the empty follicle becomes the corpus luteum, which releases progesterone. If pregnancy doesn't occur, hormone levels decline, and the cycle restarts.

Keep in mind, this outline is based on a 28-day cycle, but many healthy cycles range from 21 to 35 days.

What your glucose may be doing throughout the month

Wearing Stelo continuously lets you observe your own glucose trends 24/7. This often reveals patterns tied to your cycle. While everyone’s response is different, researchers have identified some common trends:

Glucose levels often dip during the menstrual and follicular phases (days 1-13)
Glucose levels typically rise during the luteal phase, especially toward the end of the cycle (days 15-28)

In fact, studies show glucose tends to be at its lowest in the late follicular phase and peaks around days 24–25 of the cycle.

You might also notice you feel more tired or crave more carbs during the ovulation and luteal phases. That’s not in your head; shifts in your hormones are influencing both your metabolism and your behavior. Estrogen tends to improve insulin sensitivity (helping keep glucose lower), while progesterone may have the opposite effect.

Even if you’re not living with diabetes, these changes are a normal part of your physiology.

Making sense of glucose trends during your menstrual cycle

If your glucose levels look a little higher than expected, even if you’ve eaten or moved the same way, it could be due to where you are in your cycle. Recognizing this can reduce anxiety or second-guessing and help you interpret your Stelo glucose data in context.

Supporting your cycle with lifestyle choices

There’s also growing evidence that shows physical activity and nutrition can help balance some of these hormone-driven shifts. Studies have shown that simply increasing your daily step count can help lower glucose levels, especially during the luteal phase when they tend to be highest.

If you feel sluggish or crave sweets during that second half of your cycle, try planning extra movement or slightly adjusting your carb intake. These small tweaks may help you feel more energized and steady.

Your cycle is a key part of your glucose story

Your hormones play a big role in how your body handles food, energy, and recovery throughout the month. Understanding your unique monthly cycle can empower you to make the most of your Stelo experience and make choices that better support your well-being.