Many women experience abnormal or irregular bleeding—terms that encompass heavy, erratic, or inconsistent menstrual cycles. While these issues can understandably cause concern, it’s important to realize that not all menstrual irregularities are due to obvious gynecological issues like fibroids, cysts, or polyps. Sometimes, the underlying cause might be linked to something seemingly unrelated: your metabolic health.

As a physician dedicated to not just treating but also experiencing firsthand the health strategies I recommend, I recently embarked on an experiment with my patients where we all wore continuous glucometers to monitor our blood sugar responses to different lifestyle choices. Using the Freestyle Libre 3, which is impressively resilient even during swimming or showering, we’ve gained some invaluable insights into how daily habits affect our sugar metabolism.