I have been waking up over the past four months at three or four in the morning needing sugar. If I don’t have anything sweet in the house I will eat one or two spoonfuls of sugar. I eat healthy and swim six days a week. This is beginning to scare me. Could you give me some advice please?

The menopause can cause the adrenal system to get more jumpy/sensitive and this can result in sugar cravings.

I would suggest a magnesium citrate supplement in the evening, at least 200mg, and also check your diet, the menopause can cause problems with carbohydrate metabolism making your blood sugar levels react more which can then trigger sugar cravings as well.

You may find that cutting down on carbs and increasing protein and veg helps.

In the evening don't have any sugary foods but go for protein based ones such as oatcakes and cheese or peanut butter, plain unsweetened yogurt, nuts and seeds or other savoury foods that are not high in carbs.

Dehydration can also be a contributory factor so make sure that you are drinking plenty of plain water during the day and don't have coffee after 12 pm as this can trigger cravings too!

You should find this helps quite quickly.

Acupuncture can often be good for this so worth looking into.

If none of this helps then it is important to get it checked out by your doctor.

Eileen Durward