CHAPTER 22 · GROWING UP WITH DIABETES
PUBERTY & BLOOD SUGAR SWINGS
Why hormones shake up your numbers — and what changes during these years.
Puberty brings big hormone changes to your body, and if you have diabetes, it also means changes in your blood sugar and insulin needs.
Why blood sugar swings happen
No matter your gender, hormone changes during puberty affect how your body uses insulin.
💉 Insulin needs in puberty
- You will likely need more insulin than before
⚠️ If blood sugar isn’t managed well during or around the time puberty usually starts, it can:
- Delay the start of puberty
- Prevent you from growing and developing to your full potential
Hormones in puberty
When it starts, and which hormones make insulin work differently.
📅 When puberty starts
- Usually between ages 10–14
- Can begin as early as 8–9 years in some cases
- Often starts later for boys than girls
📈 Growth hormone
- Makes insulin less effective
- Increases hunger and sleepiness
- Released throughout the day, with a peak at night/early morning
⚧️ Sex hormones
- Testosterone (boys) and estrogen (girls) release increases in puberty — both cause insulin resistance
- Testosterone and estrogen fluctuate throughout the day, which makes your blood sugar harder to keep in range
🌡️ Cortisol
- Released higher in puberty
- Raises blood sugar
Girls and periods
How the menstrual cycle changes your insulin needs.
🌸 During the menstrual cycle, insulin needs change
- Period: often higher insulin dose needed
- Days before and shortly after period: insulin needs usually drop
Keep in mind
💛 You’re not alone
Your insulin needs will change in puberty, and managing blood sugar might feel harder. But remember, many others have gone through this before you, and you are not alone — your medical team, family, and friends are here to help.
For more information
More on puberty and the changes during this time.
🔗 External resources
Before you go — this chapter is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Your medical team knows you best, so always check with them about your own targets, treatment, and any changes to your routine.