Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune condition frequently diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood, meaning many women live with T1D throughout their reproductive years. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle can influence insulin sensitivity, glycaemic variability, appetite, mood, and energy levels. Many women with T1D report cycle-related changes in blood glucose patterns, including perceived increases in insulin requirements or hyperglycaemia during the luteal phase. Others describe significant physical and emotional symptoms around menstruation that complicate diabetes self-management. Despite recent advances in diabetes technology that enable greater visibility of glycaemic fluctuations across the cycle, limited evidence exists regarding lived experiences of women managing T1D in relation to menstruation, the broader psychosocial impacts, and the type of information and support they receive or wish to receive from healthcare services.
This scoping review aims to map and synthesise existing literature on women’s experiences of the menstrual cycle while living with T1D. Specific objectives are to: (1) identify and describe the scope and characteristics of studies reporting women’s experiences of T1D in relation to the menstrual cycle; (2) summarise how the menstrual cycle is reported to affect women’s daily life, diabetes self-management, and psychosocial wellbeing; (3) explore how health services, professionals, and educational resources address the interaction between T1D and the menstrual cycle from women’s perspectives; and (4) identify gaps in the literature and propose priorities for future research. The review question guiding this work is: What is known about women’s experiences of living with type 1 diabetes in relation to the menstrual cycle?
The review will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework, the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, and PRISMA-SCR reporting guidance. Eligibility will be defined using the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework, including women and girls with T1D, studies addressing experiential aspects of menstruation, and any geographic or healthcare setting.