During the 4 years around the final period4.3% a year
After the transition0.9% a year
4.3% a year: how fast insulin resistance rose from 1.5 years before to 2.5 years after the final period, against 1.2% a year before and 0.9% after, allowing for weight change. The figures are for the study's reference woman. It points to the transition itself, not just age, but cannot prove cause.
The other side An earlier analysis of 1,054 women in the US SWAN study found glucose and insulin changes fitted steady ageing, and only cholesterol measures rose sharply around the final period. Matthews et al., J Am Coll Cardiol, 2009
October 2026 · US · Checked by Yellow 12 October 2026
Who it covers
1,315 women aged 42 to 52, pre- or early perimenopausal in 1995 to 1996, followed up to 2018; insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) measured up to 12 times; funded by the US National Institutes of Health
This card reports what research found. It is not medical advice.