Could i have menopause?

I am 42 years old, i had a hysterectomy over a year ago, but now i am getting chills and extreme hot flashes alternating.

Also, i am an insulin dependent diabetic for over 37 years.

If not menopause, and i know i don't have a cold or the flu, what could this be?

Were your ovaries removed as part of the hysterectomy? If they were, you would have gone through "menopause" within the first few weeks/months of the surgery. If they were not removed, you could be in the beginning of menopause (called "perimenopause"). Your ovaries, if left in, would continue to function naturally, but eventually they would start to shut down just like they would any woman.

Hot flashes are mostly caused by the hormonal changes of menopause, but can also be affected by lifestyle and medications. A diminished level of estrogen has a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling your appetite, sleep cycles, sex hormones, and body temperature. Somehow (we don't know how), the drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus鈥攚hich is sometimes referred to as the body's "thermostat"鈥攁nd makes it read "too hot."

The brain responds to this report by broadcasting an all-out alert to the heart, blood vessels, and nervous system: "Get rid of the heat!" The message is transmitted by the nervous system's chemical messenger, epinephrine, and related compounds: norepinephrine, prostaglandin, serotonin. The message is delivered instantly. Your heart pumps faster, the blood vessels in your skin dilate to circulate more blood to radiate off the heat, and your sweat glands release sweat to cool you off even more.

This heat-releasing mechanism is how your body keeps you from overheating in the summer, but when the process is triggered instead by a drop in estrogen, your brain's confused response can make you very uncomfortable. Some women's skin temperature can rise six degrees Centigrade during a hot flash. Your body cools down when it shouldn't, and you are miserable: soaking wet in the middle of a board meeting or in the middle of a good night's sleep.

Hot flash survival tips:
Dress in layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer.
Don't wear wool, don't wear synthetics, and be wary of silk. That leaves cotton, linen, rayon, and more cotton. (Look at the bright side: You'll save on cleaning bills, and you can stop worrying about moths.)
Avoid turtlenecks. Stick to open-neck shirts.
Keep ice water at hand that you can sip to cool down your insides.
Where possible, lower the thermostat. Maybe it's time for a decent air conditioner or a ceiling fan. Or maybe you'd prefer one of those little hand-held battery-operated fans or the foldable kind you flutter in front of your face. You can find perfectly adequate paper fans for about a dollar.
Wear cotton pajamas or a nightgown. If you perspire a lot at night, your nightclothes are easier to change than the sheets.
Use cotton sheets only, not synthetics.
Get a bigger bed if you and your partner are on different heat planets but you still want to stay in close orbit.
Take a cool shower before bed.
Try a mild medication like Tylenol
Arrive at meetings early so that you can get the coolest seat.
Use your freezer liberally. A number of women talked about opening the freezer at home (or in the supermarket) and sticking their head in when a hot flash hits.

I have been having hot flashes since I was in my 30's. So it is possible you cold be starting. My doctor told me I could go through the hot flashes thing for over 10 years. Next time you go for a check up talk to your doctor about it. He can take some blood and check your harmone levels and let you know what is happening. If you can't wait that long then call the doctor's office and talk to the nurse and see if you need to come in before your check up.

Well when I went to visit my aunt she was going through menopause. We went to an aquarium and it was cold in there and I had a jacket on. She however, was sweating like crazy and fanning herself, asking us if it was hot in there. I didn't catch on until later but she was definitely going through menopause. Sometimes even her and my uncle would get a little snappy because she was in a bad mood or felt tired/hot/cold.

I have heard cases like this before where the woman is pregnant. Your best bet... go to the doctor. It can't hurt and if it's none of the above they might be able to diagnose what it is that's going on... good luck