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Diabetic Fatigue
- Thread starter smkhan
- Start Date
Resurgam
Master
- Messages
- 10,179
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I am feeling a lot stronger these days - I have gone back to work as a knitting machine technician and teacher, and they are quite heavy things to move around or use for long periods, though of course getting them clean and in good condition makes them easier to use.
As the OP is using insulin to lower BG levels then hopefully physical fitness can be increased by gently increasing exercise - my own regime now involves a resistance spring thing and using a trampoline, and it is some time since I needed to use the Nordic walking poles to help me feel safe and stable on our uneven pavements.
As I eat low carb to control my BG I can't tell if that has been beneficial or not in improving my fitness, and I am a mere 67 years old too - but I'm not ready for the scrapheap yet by a long way even though 19 months ago I did feel as though that was on the cards.
As the OP is using insulin to lower BG levels then hopefully physical fitness can be increased by gently increasing exercise - my own regime now involves a resistance spring thing and using a trampoline, and it is some time since I needed to use the Nordic walking poles to help me feel safe and stable on our uneven pavements.
As I eat low carb to control my BG I can't tell if that has been beneficial or not in improving my fitness, and I am a mere 67 years old too - but I'm not ready for the scrapheap yet by a long way even though 19 months ago I did feel as though that was on the cards.
Guzzler
Master
- Messages
- 10,577
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
There is not one vitamin or mineral in fruit that is absent in veg. Fruit sugar (fructose) can add to a fatty liver which can cause insulin resistance in those with Type 2 or worsen existing levels of IR.
I have no need of supplements of any kind on LCHF and my fibre intake is just fine.
- Messages
- 19,040
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi @smkhan ,
Welcome to the forum.
How often are you testing your blood at home? Ideally this should be done on waking, before each meal, two hours later, then before retiring to bed.
Your metformin helps with any insulin resistance & reduces liver dump of glycogen (sugar in the blood.)
You Lantus is a "basal" background insulin, which works over a 22 hour period (on paper 24.) to control FBG (fasting blood glucose.) Lantus is not designed to deal with what one eats.. (The carbs or protein consumed.) fructose in certain fruit is a form of sugar & can raise BG..
Type 1s like myself also take a fast acting insulin to cover these meals & the carbohydrate content within the what's consumed to compensate for the spike cased by digesting the meal contents.
I am younger than you. But I do know high sugar levels can cause fatigue in my legs, as if I have run a "marathon?" Or cycled the tor de France... So I empathise on that note.
Blood sugar managment is paramount in order to discount the weakness you are experiencing isn't due to this factor.
Do keep a diary of what you eat along with your blood results & consult with your doctor.
Best wishes.
J>
A little note to @Alison54321 . The OP's carb choices you put forward may be a little limited if there is no means to bolus for it.. Please be mindful of that fact.
Welcome to the forum.
How often are you testing your blood at home? Ideally this should be done on waking, before each meal, two hours later, then before retiring to bed.
Your metformin helps with any insulin resistance & reduces liver dump of glycogen (sugar in the blood.)
You Lantus is a "basal" background insulin, which works over a 22 hour period (on paper 24.) to control FBG (fasting blood glucose.) Lantus is not designed to deal with what one eats.. (The carbs or protein consumed.) fructose in certain fruit is a form of sugar & can raise BG..
Type 1s like myself also take a fast acting insulin to cover these meals & the carbohydrate content within the what's consumed to compensate for the spike cased by digesting the meal contents.
I am younger than you. But I do know high sugar levels can cause fatigue in my legs, as if I have run a "marathon?" Or cycled the tor de France... So I empathise on that note.
Blood sugar managment is paramount in order to discount the weakness you are experiencing isn't due to this factor.
Do keep a diary of what you eat along with your blood results & consult with your doctor.
Best wishes.
J>
A little note to @Alison54321 . The OP's carb choices you put forward may be a little limited if there is no means to bolus for it.. Please be mindful of that fact.
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- Messages
- 11,608
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hello @smkhan
I understand your difficulties with mobility. Until a few years ago I needed to use a wheelchair for several years due to spinal injury and the need for surgery to correct damage from previous excessive abdominal surgeries. I had been unable to walk more than a few yards. Following several operations I needed to regain some movement and strength in my legs. I began with hydrotherapy lessons with a physiotherapist. Progressed to swimming pool and aquafit sessions. Water based exercise really helped as the bouyancy in the water meant I didn't have pain moving. For the last two years I have also attended a gym set up for older people (aged 50+) which has equipment and an exercise programme adapted for the less mobile. Some of the session is chair based, so leg strengthening exercises don't put you in danger of falling. I am the youngest person attending, (I am in my 60s) and many of the volunteers and participants are old enough to be my parents. All of this is at the local council sport centre. Perhaps there is something similar in your area? I have recently ditched the wheelchair.
Your mobility needs could also be assessed by NHS physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This would entail a referral from your doctor, then a visit to your home to see how you manage in your familiar environment. Then any adaptations and / or equipment should be provided. This is an entitlement on NHS. Though I am aware different Clinical Commissioning Groups have their own rules on what is provided and any charges. You GP would be the first person to contact regarding this.
As others have mentioned, the social aspect is important, but you need to feel safe getting out and about. Another option for you, (if you are UK based) is to find your local Shopmobility service. Most big towns and cities have them. They can advise on borrowing wheelchairs, and mobility scooters (for a small fee plus membership cost) . I have found them to be very helpful.
http://www.shopmobility.org.uk/
I really hope you find a workable solution soon, and will keep us informed of progress.
I understand your difficulties with mobility. Until a few years ago I needed to use a wheelchair for several years due to spinal injury and the need for surgery to correct damage from previous excessive abdominal surgeries. I had been unable to walk more than a few yards. Following several operations I needed to regain some movement and strength in my legs. I began with hydrotherapy lessons with a physiotherapist. Progressed to swimming pool and aquafit sessions. Water based exercise really helped as the bouyancy in the water meant I didn't have pain moving. For the last two years I have also attended a gym set up for older people (aged 50+) which has equipment and an exercise programme adapted for the less mobile. Some of the session is chair based, so leg strengthening exercises don't put you in danger of falling. I am the youngest person attending, (I am in my 60s) and many of the volunteers and participants are old enough to be my parents. All of this is at the local council sport centre. Perhaps there is something similar in your area? I have recently ditched the wheelchair.
Your mobility needs could also be assessed by NHS physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This would entail a referral from your doctor, then a visit to your home to see how you manage in your familiar environment. Then any adaptations and / or equipment should be provided. This is an entitlement on NHS. Though I am aware different Clinical Commissioning Groups have their own rules on what is provided and any charges. You GP would be the first person to contact regarding this.
As others have mentioned, the social aspect is important, but you need to feel safe getting out and about. Another option for you, (if you are UK based) is to find your local Shopmobility service. Most big towns and cities have them. They can advise on borrowing wheelchairs, and mobility scooters (for a small fee plus membership cost) . I have found them to be very helpful.
http://www.shopmobility.org.uk/
I really hope you find a workable solution soon, and will keep us informed of progress.
Crocodile
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 692
- Location
- Sydney Australia
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- I can't have it often
@smkhan
"During this time I would use 2000mg of metformin to control the sugar"
Big problem. Unfortunately, drugs like metformin work by moderating glucose released by the liver. It in no way compensates for what you stick in your mouth. Diet is by far the greatest weapon. Even at 84. Have a portion of banana but remember to include the carbohydrate contribution in your meal time allowance.
Have fun.
"During this time I would use 2000mg of metformin to control the sugar"
Big problem. Unfortunately, drugs like metformin work by moderating glucose released by the liver. It in no way compensates for what you stick in your mouth. Diet is by far the greatest weapon. Even at 84. Have a portion of banana but remember to include the carbohydrate contribution in your meal time allowance.
Have fun.
Alison54321
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,221
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
I haven't put forward any carb choices, I am accepting the choices made by the OP as valid. I am also assuming the OP capable of making appropriate choices, and given that he is taking a small amount of Lantus it seems fairly likely he tests his blood glucose.
The thread was about exercise advice not diet advice. The OP then told us what he was eating, and I had the temerity, it seems, to suggest that it was a fine healthy diet, despite it containing, of all things, a pear.
Imagine considering eating 10 grams of carbohydrates as a pear, to be a healthy food choice.
Wow
@smkhan I am so sorry that your introduction to the forum has been the arguing on this thread. Not what we usually expect on an intro thread. Especially when you clearly stated that your blood glucose is now under control and you are very aware of your diet choices. If you are feeling better, then that is what is important. And it is very likely that you can continue to improve and work up to more mobility and better health in the future.
I also rather dislike the implication (earlier in the thread) that your age means you should have less concern for your diet and eat more of foods that are known to negatively impact your health. You are obviously well aware of the need to eat well, since you are coming out of a year of raised blood glucose and struggling with the impact of those blood sugars on your legs and overall health.
The thought that someone should neglect their eating because of age is apalling to me.
My own father is 86 and he spent the last weekend with my brother in law breaking up a concrete coalbunker (that he built himself 50 years ago). The pair of them carried the concrete pieces out to a skip in front of the house, then broke up the concrete slab underneath the coal bunker (2x4 yards) and carried that to the skip too.
Did my father do the lions share of it? No.
But he was active, on his feet, working for hours on one of the hottest weekends of the year.
And yes, he is a T2 diabetic who looks after himself and now takes more care of his diet thnt he has for the last 20 years.
He is certainly more fit and active than he was a couple of years ago, when his bgs were higher and his energy and stamina were much lower.
But one thing is very certain - he would not have regained this level of health and activity without appropriate care and attention to his nutrition. He eats plenty of good quality protein, butter, cream and cheese, along with salads every day for lunch and 2 or 3 portions of veg every evening. He reluctantly saves sweet treats for special occasions and has never eaten processed foods regularly. He eats higher carbs that I would like but he is active enough to burn most of the glucose off. This is key. The more sedentary we are, the more insulin resistance that T2s have. The more exercise we do, the more we can cope with carb intake.
Consequently, the more sedentary we are, the more our blood glucose rises, and the worse we feel, and the more reluctant/unable we are to exercise. This is not something that T1s experience in the same way. They are less prone to insulin resistance. So please bear that in mind when reading posts from T1 diabetics, because their experience of carbs, insulin and insulin resistance is very different, and may not be relevant to you.
Oh, and in case anyone thinks that my father is some kind of octagenarian superman, I can tell you that he is taking a few days to recover, my mother is furious with him for working too hard, and he won't be allowed to overdo things again for a loooooong time.
So @smkhan please take things gently, just add a few extra steps a day, and with insulin in the mix, make any dietary changes slowly, and with plenty of blood glucose testing to see what is happening.
Best wishes, and welcome to the forum!
@smkhan I am so sorry that your introduction to the forum has been the arguing on this thread. Not what we usually expect on an intro thread. Especially when you clearly stated that your blood glucose is now under control and you are very aware of your diet choices. If you are feeling better, then that is what is important. And it is very likely that you can continue to improve and work up to more mobility and better health in the future.
I also rather dislike the implication (earlier in the thread) that your age means you should have less concern for your diet and eat more of foods that are known to negatively impact your health. You are obviously well aware of the need to eat well, since you are coming out of a year of raised blood glucose and struggling with the impact of those blood sugars on your legs and overall health.
The thought that someone should neglect their eating because of age is apalling to me.
My own father is 86 and he spent the last weekend with my brother in law breaking up a concrete coalbunker (that he built himself 50 years ago). The pair of them carried the concrete pieces out to a skip in front of the house, then broke up the concrete slab underneath the coal bunker (2x4 yards) and carried that to the skip too.
Did my father do the lions share of it? No.
But he was active, on his feet, working for hours on one of the hottest weekends of the year.
And yes, he is a T2 diabetic who looks after himself and now takes more care of his diet thnt he has for the last 20 years.
He is certainly more fit and active than he was a couple of years ago, when his bgs were higher and his energy and stamina were much lower.
But one thing is very certain - he would not have regained this level of health and activity without appropriate care and attention to his nutrition. He eats plenty of good quality protein, butter, cream and cheese, along with salads every day for lunch and 2 or 3 portions of veg every evening. He reluctantly saves sweet treats for special occasions and has never eaten processed foods regularly. He eats higher carbs that I would like but he is active enough to burn most of the glucose off. This is key. The more sedentary we are, the more insulin resistance that T2s have. The more exercise we do, the more we can cope with carb intake.
Consequently, the more sedentary we are, the more our blood glucose rises, and the worse we feel, and the more reluctant/unable we are to exercise. This is not something that T1s experience in the same way. They are less prone to insulin resistance. So please bear that in mind when reading posts from T1 diabetics, because their experience of carbs, insulin and insulin resistance is very different, and may not be relevant to you.
Oh, and in case anyone thinks that my father is some kind of octagenarian superman, I can tell you that he is taking a few days to recover, my mother is furious with him for working too hard, and he won't be allowed to overdo things again for a loooooong time.
So @smkhan please take things gently, just add a few extra steps a day, and with insulin in the mix, make any dietary changes slowly, and with plenty of blood glucose testing to see what is happening.
Best wishes, and welcome to the forum!
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Welcome to the forum and I too am surprised at the strong debate in this thread. Please stay with us, it is not always like this. My advice to you would be to carry on walking as much as you can. It sounds as if you have something to count your steps each day so keep on going at 2000 this week. Then try a few more next week and so on. I tend to take the view that things which take a while coming on take a while to repair properly and our bodies tend to take longer to repair as we age so be patient with yourself. When I started getting myself fitter I kept a record of daily exercise so that I could look back and see progress. If you are nervous of going out then try a walking programme from youtube. You do not need to subscribe or pay anything but Leslie Sansone has a set of videos that go from 5 minutes to 45 minutes at various levels of exercise and always makes it clear that you do not have to do all the kicks and steps, just keep on walking with her beat. When you feel more confident then you may prefer walking outside and enjoying being more sociable, libraries and community centres have various groups and there is often someone who is prepared to offer a lift.
Some of my work colleagues are surprised at my energy although my manager seems to think nothing of scheduling me to stand at a counter for three hours while he sits, he is half my age and regards himself as fit! Perhaps a few tweaks to your diet may help reduce carbs but please be careful if you are on insulin medication and test, test, test. Best wishes
Some of my work colleagues are surprised at my energy although my manager seems to think nothing of scheduling me to stand at a counter for three hours while he sits, he is half my age and regards himself as fit! Perhaps a few tweaks to your diet may help reduce carbs but please be careful if you are on insulin medication and test, test, test. Best wishes
Guzzler
Master
- Messages
- 10,577
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
One thing I would suggest is resistive bands (available on Amazon for a couple of quid apiece for the cheapest version). There are tutorials on youtube on how to use them, too.
Well first of all let me just say I greatly appreciate everyones input and desire to help even though I may have inadvertently started a bit of an argument. Since I started the Lantus my sugar has remained below 100. I am adding a few fruits here and there to see whether I can afford to do that. So far it seems to be okay. I was initially more concerned about trying to build up the strength in my legs and improve my energy after a year of bad sugar readings. From the gist of the conversation I think that I need to gradually increase my exercise regime and speak to a physio about specific exercise. Thank you all.
SockFiddler
Well-Known Member
Hi, @smkhan - and welcome!
You have to at least be a bit flattered that we all care so very much about you,right?!
I'm 41 and I've not been able to walk confidently more than 15 yards for 4 years. I use a mobility scooter to get around, I can suffer days of extreme pain and fatigue and, though I hate to say it, I've not yet met a GP who finds this important in the slightest. Not a single eyebrow raised at my deteriorating condition, in spite of the many steps I've taken (successfully) to get control of my health.
I say this not to cause dismay but because I grew tired of wasting what little energy I have on looking for answers from my local health team.
Instead I manage my health myself, including my fitness, by taking advice from good sources, making positive choices and listening to my body: when I'm tired, I stop. When it's too much, I stop. And I don't feel guilty about having quiet rest days, either.
I've started swimming twice a week, Tuesday and Fridays. And what's struck me is the massive support I've found in an unexpected place. Everyone I swim with is swimming to recover from injury or illness. Many of them are older than me, all of them stop of a quick chat, congratulate each other on swimming one length more or looking less stiff than last week or improving their swimming stroke.
At first, I couldn't swim at all (though I used to be a very strong swimmer). I started off just floating in the deep end, trying to find out what I could and couldn't do through a series of stretches and trials. Over a few weeks, I grew more confident and, with the encouragement of the other people around me, I can now swim 8 lengths and do 3 bouts of 2-minute leg kicks in a 45 minute session, twice a week.
6 months ago, that would have been unthinkable.
At all times, I follow the rule that if it hurts, stop. If I feel tired, I stop. And that I don't push myself more than 2 lengths further than I did before, even when I'm feeling good.
I've not been at it long enough to see any real long-term change in my back and mobility, but I feel better for it. My body is already leaner and my legs have become noticeably more muscular. I am more comfortable in the water, and I feel truly supported by the people I share the pool with (it helps if you go early in the morning - I swim between 9 and 10).
As Dory said... just keep swimming!
Good luck
You have to at least be a bit flattered that we all care so very much about you,right?!
I'm 41 and I've not been able to walk confidently more than 15 yards for 4 years. I use a mobility scooter to get around, I can suffer days of extreme pain and fatigue and, though I hate to say it, I've not yet met a GP who finds this important in the slightest. Not a single eyebrow raised at my deteriorating condition, in spite of the many steps I've taken (successfully) to get control of my health.
I say this not to cause dismay but because I grew tired of wasting what little energy I have on looking for answers from my local health team.
Instead I manage my health myself, including my fitness, by taking advice from good sources, making positive choices and listening to my body: when I'm tired, I stop. When it's too much, I stop. And I don't feel guilty about having quiet rest days, either.
I've started swimming twice a week, Tuesday and Fridays. And what's struck me is the massive support I've found in an unexpected place. Everyone I swim with is swimming to recover from injury or illness. Many of them are older than me, all of them stop of a quick chat, congratulate each other on swimming one length more or looking less stiff than last week or improving their swimming stroke.
At first, I couldn't swim at all (though I used to be a very strong swimmer). I started off just floating in the deep end, trying to find out what I could and couldn't do through a series of stretches and trials. Over a few weeks, I grew more confident and, with the encouragement of the other people around me, I can now swim 8 lengths and do 3 bouts of 2-minute leg kicks in a 45 minute session, twice a week.
6 months ago, that would have been unthinkable.
At all times, I follow the rule that if it hurts, stop. If I feel tired, I stop. And that I don't push myself more than 2 lengths further than I did before, even when I'm feeling good.
I've not been at it long enough to see any real long-term change in my back and mobility, but I feel better for it. My body is already leaner and my legs have become noticeably more muscular. I am more comfortable in the water, and I feel truly supported by the people I share the pool with (it helps if you go early in the morning - I swim between 9 and 10).
As Dory said... just keep swimming!
Good luck
Crocodile
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 692
- Location
- Sydney Australia
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- I can't have it often
Wish I could push the 'winner' button 100 times.
