Identifying the unique experiences of perimenopause and menopause amongst women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to inform future practice
Description: Background: Perimenopause and menopause are significant stages of a woman’s reproductive life that change hormonal regulation. The physiological and psychological effects can be challenging, with potentially negative impacts on health and quality-of-life. There is little evidence to guide diabetes management, psychological support and service provision but voices of women during ‘patient and public involvement’ activities strongly support the need to investigate their needs. Purpose: To delineate the experience of the peri/menopause amongst women with Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to inform service and educational development. Design: A mixed method exploratory sequential design comprising four Work Packages. Methods: A scoping review will map knowledge, identify evidence gaps and inform the next stages (WP1). Focus Groups (n=18) will explore the shared and the unique experiences of menopause from the perspectives of women with T1DM and T2DM across the United Kingdom (WP2). These will extend our understanding of menopause experience and inform instrument development. The survey instrument will be developed following recommended guidance (WP3). A comparative cross sectional, on-line, national survey of women with T1DM, T2DM or no diabetes will establish prevalence of symptoms, self-management experiences and help-seeking behaviours, overall and across the sub-groups with a validated instrument (WP4).
Funder: Diabetes UK
Amount: £126,400
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project Grant
Start date: 2024-05-01
End date: 2026-02-28
Investigators: Vivien Coates, Vivien Coates
Institution: University of Ulster
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 23/0006554
OpenAlex ID: G9000510015