Fatigue in Afternoons

Fencer

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I used to feel like this all of the time in the afternoons; not a normal tired, more like someone has actually drained all of the energy out. When I was diagnosed and treated with diabetes, this shortly improved and I felt a lot better, full of beans until the end of the day.

Recently (past couple of weeks) shortly after lunch, I feel exactly the same. I have tried changing what I have for lunch from bringing in my own lunch (sandwiches made with wholemeal bread and frui/nut/seed mix and an apple) to eating in the canteen (try to go for the healthy options, but not always possible) to Subway/similar.

I am testing myself in the afternoon when I feel a bit rubbishy but have not found any wild BG levels (between 4 and 7). Always try to test roughly 2 hours after lunch, although I am going to pop out just now and try mine (1 hour since lunch) as I feel totally rubbish.

I'll be honest though, my lunch today was awful. In the canteen and had lasagne with a few roast potatoes and a chocolatey cereal pudding with some custard; so yeah, you will probably be thinking that no wonder I feel rubbish, but as I said changing what I eat doesn't seem to help.

I'm quite annoyed at myself for letting my diet slip lately. I had gotten it really quite healthy, but with going to the gym in the evenings I don't find myself with time to cook proper evening meals and make the next day's lunch.

Any advice will be appreciated.
 

Fencer

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Just tested and I'm at 6.9; I expected it to be higher given how I feel right now.
 

viviennem

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I think that lunch might make you feel bad whether or not you had diabetes!

I'd go back to taking in your own packed lunch, and have your favourites for a while. Maybe try to cut out the bread and take just the fillings in a plastic box? If I feel sleepy and as if someone has cut my strings, these days, it's usually after eating carbohydrate.

Just a thought! Hope things improve.

Viv 8)
 

Fencer

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Thanks for your reply Viv. Excuse me for questioning it though; not saying that you are wrong, just trying to understand.

How can eating less carbs give you more energy? I can understand it if my BG was shooting way up, but at the levels that I'm measuring, surely any less carbs would leave me feeling drained.
 

Lorrie

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Hi Fencer,

I have cut out carbs for nearly two weeks now after reading the information on this site, and my energy levels have risen dramatically, the ione time I had carbs n the form of pulses, I felt so tired and sleepy it was awful, try it for a day or two and see
 

Bluenosesol

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Hi guys,

when I was diagnosed in April 2009, one of my symptoms was chronic fatigue and I mean CHRONIC!! I would fall asleep in my chair at work and start snoring!! For the last 2 years, I have stuck to sub 50g of carbs per day and have experienced more energy than i can recall!

All the best - Steve
 

viviennem

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It doesn't seem logical to me either, Fencer, but it's just what happens. Too many carbs make me feel stodgy and sleepy; just now, 2 slices of bread in a sandwich is too many carbs! :roll:

I've always had that mid-afternoon drop, particularly in an office job; nodding off after lunch. Going low-carb put a stop to it - which I hadn't really noticed till I thought about it. Just like Steve and Lorrie, I have much more energy on low carb.

Maybe someone whose knowledge of biochemistry is better than mine could help.

Viv 8)
 

Fencer

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Thanks for the advice guys. I do want to give what you are suggesting a go, but worried about a couple of things. Firstly, I need to figure out how to go about it. Carbs are everywhere when you think about it, especially at lunchtimes. I can get round that though. More importantly is the worry about how it will affect my gym classes or not. I've been doing a lot of work in the gym and getting on great with it, don't want that to change.

Last night was weird. I went home from work and lay down. I was dozing off and felt so tired. No way was I going to the gym. It was now 1705 and I needed to leave at 1715, but I just wanted to sleep. Something clicked and I forced myself out the door. Got to the class and felt amazing!
 

lovinglife

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Hi Fencer - maybe worth seeing your GP - we tend to think once we have this flaming thing that everything and anything that happens to our bodies is the DB - not eveything is about diabetes and it may not be connected at all -it could be any number of things- at least if there is nothing else untoward you can then look at "things diabetic"
 

))Denise((

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There are several conditions that cause extreme fatigue. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and it wasn't that at all. It was Vitamin D deficiency because I don't go outside enough as I work in an office all day. Underactive Thyroid, Anaemia and Vitamin B12 deficiency all cause tiredness.

Go to your doc and get some blood tests done.
 

Fencer

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))Denise(( said:
There are several conditions that cause extreme fatigue. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and it wasn't that at all. It was Vitamin D deficiency because I don't go outside enough as I work in an office all day. Underactive Thyroid, Anaemia and Vitamin B12 deficiency all cause tiredness.

Go to your doc and get some blood tests done.

That's funny, I was listening to a Radio 4 documentary last night on Vit D and thinking to myself that I should consider this.

Thanks for the advice.