Rule Out Health Problems
Fatigue is a common symptom of many illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, anemia, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea. Talk to your doctor if you feel unusually tired.
Many medications can contribute to fatigue. These include some blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, diuretics, and other drugs. If you begin to experience fatigue after starting a new medication, tell your doctor.
How To Reduce Diabetes Fatigue
Since you cannot stop treating diabetes, you have to look for ways to treat fatigue as a part of your overall condition. Here are two useful tips on how to reduce diabetes fatigue:
- Depression management
Compared to healthy people, diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from depression.
Depression is a big contributor to diabetes fatigue, so treating it properly is very important.
- Lifestyle changes
Physical activity is essential to feeling energized. Changing your lifestyle to involve more physical activity, accompanied by the appropriate diet, can result in a real boosting effect.
Diabetes And Fatigue: Everything You Need To Know
What exactly is fatigue? Is it just being tired after working a long week or not getting enough sleep?
The answer is no.
Fatigue is excessive tiredness that makes carrying out simple tasks difficult and interferes with one or more life functions. Sounds terrible, doesnt it? Well imagine having a chronic illness along with the fatigue. Diabetes and fatigue have a strong relationship, and it can make a persons life very difficult. The following article will discuss the relationship, along with ways to beat and reduce the risk of living with diabetes and fatigue.
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Fatigue In Diabetes: A Vicious Cycle
Fatigue is a frequently encountered symptom in the general practice management of diabetes. Fatigue may be the presenting symptom of diabetes, or it may present as one of a constellation of complaints. It may even persist after glycemic control is achieved. All of these clinical situations, irrespective of causality or association, may be grouped together as DFS. Fatigue has been reported to be prevalent in patients with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes . Its association with inflammation, body mass index, insulin treatment, and depression has also been studied . The lack of correlation between fatigue on the one hand and hyperglycemia and glycemic variability on the other is also known . The unique features of fatigue in persons with diabetes have also been recognized, prompting the development of disease-specific diagnostic tools , as opposed to generic ones .
Diabetes and fatigue seem to have a bidirectional relationship, both feeding and worsening each other, thereby creating a vicious cycle of DFS . This relationship is strengthened by biochemical, psychological, and lifestyle factors.
Weight Gain And Fatigue In Prediabetes
Weight gain in diabetes results in insulin resistance which then has a domino effect culminating in high blood sugars and fatigue. Even a 20kg increase in weight has an enormous impact on our body carrying the extra around so it is not surprising that it can be a vicious cycle as tiredness leads to less activity poorer food choices as no energy to prepare or shop for meals poor body image and depression.
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Differences Between Participants And Nonparticipants
There was no significant difference on the mean scores on the SFQ between participants and nonparticipants completing questionnaires. Nonparticipants, including nonresponders, did not differ significantly from participants on sex . Participants and nonparticipants did differ significantly from each other on age and HbA1c. Participants were older , participants had lower HbA1c values , and their latest HbA1c was measured more recently compared with nonparticipants. The mean age of nonparticipants was 43.6 years, mean HbA1c values were 8.6 , and HbA1c was measured 8 months previously .
Diabetes Distress Is What Some People Feel When Theyre Overwhelmed By The Relentlessness Of Diabetes This Can Lead To Diabetes Burnout
The way you react to things and the emotions you feel can vary for different people. You might feel frustrated, guilty, sad or worried. Sometimes you might feel all of these emotions and more from time to time. Feeling this way about your diabetes is understandable and its a natural reaction for anyone thats been diagnosed with a long-term health condition. Knowing some of the signs can help you start to manage these feelings.
Lots of people feel like this sometimes but its important you get help. If you dont get support to help you cope, youre more likely to reach burnout and that can be really serious.
“Dont be afraid to admit that you are going through a burnout, its completely normal and there are people who want to help you, dont push them away. If it happened now, Id call the Diabetes UK helpline.”
Aruna, who had diabetes burnout – read Aruna’s story
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Do Blood Sugar Levels Make A Person With Diabetes Tired
Blood sugar levels can definitely make someone tired. If blood sugar levels are too high or too low, the body is not able to operate 100% like it should and it can wear the body down. Also, having to chase blood sugar with insulin and battle to keep it under control is very tiring. One study found that 29% of people with diabetes said fatigue was caused by adjusting insulin dosages and 23% percent said that it was caused by stress from managing their disease.
Hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, can cause fatigue because it deprives the brain and other organs of fuel and oxygen to work properly. If blood sugar gets too low, then it can cause major problems such as confusion or even seizures.
Hyperglycemia, which is blood sugar that is too high, can cause fatigue because the blood carrying the fuel to the organs is like maple syrup instead of water. When it takes longer for the cells to reach their destination, the body is tired and worn out.
Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She didnt like the porridge too cold or too hot, it had to be just right in the middle. Blood sugar is the same way. The body operates best when it stays in the target range.
Cause No : Depression
Depression is also a significant cause of fatigue. In fact many people still regard it only as an emotional disorder but its symptoms can include headaches, loss of appetite and fatigue. If you see yourself tired and emotionally drained for most of the time, then see your doctor as the depression may be a cause for it.
Remedy: With the growing urban lifestyle, depression is taking an increasing number of people in its grip. Depression is curable and can be treated with counselling and/or medication. Thus, check the symptoms in you and see a psychiatrist if needed.
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The Truth About Blood Sugar Levels And Tiredness
Many people donât realize that your energy levels and how tired you feel is very closely related to your blood sugar levels. If you look up the symptoms of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and youâll see tiredness and fatigue listed as symptoms for both conditions. So, over long periods of time, poorly managed blood sugars can definitely lead to unexplained tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion.
Why Is Fighting Diabetes Fatigue Important
Having a high state of energy is not just important to enjoy and be engaged in the moments of your life , but being a diabetic takes work, constant surveillance of your blood sugar, exertion, and stress levels, these become unconscious stresses that affect your energy level.
To properly combat this disease and win the road to reversing your diabetes, you need to prepare mentally, and that takes energy.
Diet and exercise will allow you to win, but how can you maintain consistent action on that front if you are also battling diabetes fatigue?
You cant.
So, make the adjustments and then dont stop. The energy required for this challenge is one of the reasons why The Mastering Diabetes Community is so important. If you are serious about fighting diabetes and improving your entire health, Join the Mastering Diabetes Community Here.
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Common Diabetes Fatigue Questions Answered
Before we jump into ways to boost energy for diabetes, letâs answer some common questions to set the stage for the most important factor in boosting energy levels when you have diabetes: blood sugar control.
How Common Is Diabetes Distress
Diabetes distress is actually really common. Its a completely natural reaction to looking after diabetes all day, every day.
It doesnt matter what type of diabetes you have anyone can feel diabetes distress and a lot of people feel it more than once. It is slightly more common for people who take insulin.
One in four people with type 1 diabetes have high levels of diabetes distress, as do one in five people with type 2 diabetes.
The most common reason for feeling diabetes distress is worrying about getting complications in the future or feeling anxious if managing your diabetes goes off track.
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Type 1 Diabetes Fatigue
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas is turned on by antibodies, attacking it as if it were a foreign body. Eventually, the pancreas is weakened to a point in which it can no longer produce enough insulin, or any insulin for that matter and can not effectively regulate blood sugar.
The treatment for type 1 diabetes includes strictly timed injections of synthetic insulin that regulate blood sugar and keep the body functioning.
Remedy For Mild Fatigue
If you find that your fatigue is not linked to any medical condition then mild exercise is the best recourse you can take. Exercise is a great answer to enhance your metabolism and improve blood circulation which can give a great energy and efficiency boost to normal adults working in modern environments. For example, exercises as mild as doing cycling on a stationary bike for 20-25 minutes is enough to fight fatigue and augment your performance and productivity.
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Blood Sugar Energy And Mood
When you have diabetes, your body struggles to correctly process the simple sugars in your food that give you your energy. Your pancreas produces insulin, which allows your body to break down and use food-based glucose. Your blood sugar levels should remain within a specific range to fully power your body and mind throughout the day.
One of the first places where you might notice blood sugar issues could be your energy levels or mood. If your energy drops suddenly, or if you start struggling with fatigue that doesnt get better after appropriate rest and relaxation, diabetes might be the source of the problem.
High and low blood sugar can both present with fatigue as a symptom. The American Diabetes Association notes that fatigue shows up as a symptom for 61% of patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
Your blood sugar levels can also dramatically impact your mood. People dealing withuncontrolled diabetes can experience mood swings as a symptom, suddenly bottoming out emotionally for no clear reason
Could My Fatigue Be Linked To My Depression About Diabetes
Diabetes is a very stressful disease. It takes a lot of time and energy to plan meals and insulin dosages. Having all of the stress can lead to depression. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression as those without diabetes.
Depression is a major cause of fatigue, and can make it even harder to manage diabetes because of lack of motivation. It is important that individuals with depression seek help from their doctor/therapist to make sure that they are able to care for themselves. Learning coping mechanisms to deal with your depression which is linked to your diabetes will be effective in the long term.
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Cause No 1: Cfs And Fibromyalgia
If your fatigue does not go away and is so serious that you fail to manage even day to day activities then, you may be suffering from fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Both the afflictions can have many symptoms but continuous tiredness or exhaustion is the common sign of both.
Remedy: There is no quick fix to CFS or fibromyalgia, however, patients will find changing their daily schedule, learning better sleeping habits and undertaking a gentle exercise programs like yoga to help and serve their healing well.
Can Having Gestational Diabetes Make You Tired
Gestational diabetes is a condition that approximately 4% of women experience during pregnancy. Due to the hormones, insulin resistance occurs, and causes higher blood sugar levels. This can be a problem because it causes babies to be born larger and have difficult births. It can also cause birth defects and it makes the first few days difficult for the newborn to maintain their blood sugar. It usually can be controlled with a change in diet, but sometimes insulin may be required.
Some women show no signs of gestational diabetes, while other have extreme fatigue, elevated thirst, and an increase in urinating. The problem is that most pregnant women experience all of these symptoms anyway. For this reason, all women are tested for gestational around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Women at a higher risk may be tested earlier.
If fatigue does become worse during pregnancy, the expectant mother should seek help from their physician to rule out gestational diabetes or other complications such as low blood pressure or anemia .
Further reading:
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What You Can Do
While Type 1 diabetes is typically genetic, you can develop Type 2 diabetes over time. However, you can also do a lot to get Type 2 diabetes under control. Once youve got your diagnosis, you can get started putting together a plan for lifestyle changes, like healthier food choices and regular exercise.
Getting healthy and losing weight can reduce or reverse the problems caused by Type 2 diabetes. Your weight can also impact your energy levels more broadly. Many people find weight loss comes with a new rush of energy, optimizing physical health for less fatigue and weariness.
At Morris Medical Center, we can diagnose your Type 2 diabetes, and recommend any medications or treatments that might be helpful for your condition. Without treatment, diabetes can become medically serious, potentially leading to heart disease or neuropathy. If you can control your diabetes, you can finally resolve symptoms like fatigue, irritability, mood swings, and low energy for good.
To talk to a member of our team about your diabetes symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, contact Morris Medical Center right away. You can schedule your initial consultation appointment over the phone, or by using the online booking tool.
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Cause No : Dehydration
The fatigue that you regularly experience could be a result of dehydration. No matter whether you have a desk job or a work that requires physical effort, your body need water to keep the metabolism going and stay cool. If you feel thirsty for most part then understand that you are already facing dehydration.
Remedy: Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking water throughout the day at short intervals. Make sure your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water, an hour before any physical activity. Keep sipping little throughout the work and then drink at least two cups after the work out. This will ensure proper amount of water in the body.
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Why Is Diabetes Fatigue So Common
Fatigue can be caused by something physical, emotional distress, or because of lifestyle choices. Previously in this article, a number of things related to diabetes that cause fatigue was listed. If you read over that list, you can find physical, emotional, and lifestyle choices in there. This means that individuals with diabetes are at a risk from developing fatigue because of many different reasons.
An example is someone with diabetes that eats a very healthy diet and exercises daily. If they are too stressed because of the struggle to control their blood sugar, they could develop fatigue. Another example is someone that is very calm and follows their insulin and diet plan perfectly, but they have restless leg syndrome because of the nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Having physical, emotional, and lifestyle risk factors makes it very difficult for people with diabetes to avoid fatigue. Many people experience multiple problems that cause fatigue, such as sleep apnea and anxiety. Dealing with both of these makes it even harder to overcome the fatigue. This is why it is the most common symptom of diabetes.
The image below shows how all three variables play into fatigue. It also shows that not only do they cause fatigue, but fatigue causes them as well.
Get Support From A Healthcare Professional
Your healthcare team are there to support you with the physical and emotional side of diabetes. So talk to your healthcare team if youre feeling any sort of diabetes distress. Together youll be able to make plans that can reduce your distress, like making small changes to your diabetes routine or going on an education course.
You might also want to speak to a psychological specialist to help you cope or adjust to life with diabetes. You can ask your healthcare team to refer you, or if you live in England you can search for your local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies team and contact them directly. IAPT services arent available across the UK.
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