- Messages
- 27
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Inactivity
I’m trying to work out what can be done, if anything, about fatigue.
I’m told that the reason I’m tired much of the time - even slight exertions can exhaust me - is because the blood glucose is not getting to my cells in the amount it should, and so with insufficient fuel the cells don’t function effectively. I’m also told that the reason that not enough glucose is getting to my cells is because I don’t offer up enough insulin to transport it there – either because of insulin resistance or insufficient production of the hormone.
What I’m having trouble understanding is why the level of glucose in the blood is relevant. If there’s a finite amount of insulin available to mop up the blood glucose it shouldn’t matter if there’s loads of glucose available, the insulin can only absorb a fixed amount. So presumably what determines what gets through, and therefore how tired I am, is the amount of insulin available, not the amount of glucose available.
The practical implication is therefore if I want to increase my energy levels should I be doing something else other than trying to lower my blood glucose, and if so what? Obviously it’s crucial to lower blood sugar for heart, eye, liver, foot etc health, but is it doing any good for tiredness?
I’m told that the reason I’m tired much of the time - even slight exertions can exhaust me - is because the blood glucose is not getting to my cells in the amount it should, and so with insufficient fuel the cells don’t function effectively. I’m also told that the reason that not enough glucose is getting to my cells is because I don’t offer up enough insulin to transport it there – either because of insulin resistance or insufficient production of the hormone.
What I’m having trouble understanding is why the level of glucose in the blood is relevant. If there’s a finite amount of insulin available to mop up the blood glucose it shouldn’t matter if there’s loads of glucose available, the insulin can only absorb a fixed amount. So presumably what determines what gets through, and therefore how tired I am, is the amount of insulin available, not the amount of glucose available.
The practical implication is therefore if I want to increase my energy levels should I be doing something else other than trying to lower my blood glucose, and if so what? Obviously it’s crucial to lower blood sugar for heart, eye, liver, foot etc health, but is it doing any good for tiredness?