Endocrine Disruption, Menopause, and Poor Sleep in wOmen With Type 2 Diabetes: Effects on Cardiovascular Health

The EMPOWER prospective cohort study is part of a larger project. This interdisciplinary project will utilize animal models, clinical cohorts, epidemiological datasets and data from randomized control trials to explore the hypothesis that sleep disruption and menopause-induced hormonal changes synergistically increase systemic inflammation and impair incretin signaling, leading to worsened cardiac function, heightened cardiometabolic dysfunction, and accelerated CVD risk.

The EMPOWER study aims to determine the cumulative effect of multiple exposures including menopause progression and sleep disruption on subclinical cardiac remodeling in women with T2DM in the perimenopausal transition and if these relationships are moderated by T2DM management, Body Mass Index (BMI), or inflammation.

Inclusion criteria

• Female Sex
• Age range 48-58 years
• In menopausal transition phase (pre-menopause or peri-menopause)
• Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Have access to and regularly use a smartphone with internet access

Exclusion criteria

• Male Sex
• Currently Pregnant
• Prior history of total hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy
• Prior diagnosis of any of the following:

Coronary Vascular Disease (CVD) including coronary heart disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease stroke/transient ischemic attack, valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, aortapathy, atrial fibrillation or flutter, other CVD.

• Untreated serious mental illness (e.g, untreated psychosis).