The effect of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy on hyperandrogenicity and glucose homeostasis in postmenopausal women with NIDDM

Recently an association between hyperandrogenicity, as indicated by low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and elevated free testosterone on the one hand, and insulin resistance on the other, has been shown in postmenopausal women (1). We have recently shown that oral estrogen replacement therapy alleviated hyperandrogenicity and improved glucose tolerance and blood lipids in postmenopausal women with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (2). In the present study we examined the effect of percutaneous estradiol in combination with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on glucose tolerance, blood lipids and steroid hormones in a small group of postmenopausal women with NIDDM.