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Exhausted

Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hope you are all good. I am really struggling with fatigue. Like having to force myself out of bed in the mornings after 9 hours of sleep. I almost feel like I have the flu but without the cold symptoms if that makes sense. My muscles ache and I feel week. I know diabetes causes fatigue but not sure to what extent. Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.
 
Hi @Morethanidlike , I see you are recently diagnosed. Have you gone low carb? If so you may be suffering from keto flu, like you describe sort of like flu but not flu. It’s your body getting used to the lowering of carbs. It’s worth pushing through to reach the glucose levels you’re aiming for.
 
Thank you for your reply. I have cut back on carbs but nothing too extreme. I’m struggling to get my head round it all to be fair x
 
Don't know if you're testing your blood sugar, but high levels can cause fatigue. It could be something totally unrelated to diabetes as well, so probably worth speaking to your dr or nurse. How long have you felt like this? Could it be Covid?
 
Don't know if you're testing your blood sugar, but high levels can cause fatigue. It could be something totally unrelated to diabetes as well, so probably worth speaking to your dr or nurse. How long have you felt like this? Could it be Covid?
Thank you for your reply. I have ‘long covid’ but the fatigue is worsening. My waking bloods are 8, between 5.8 and 7.1 before a meal and then between 9 and 14 2 hours after eating . I will try and get an appt but I’m more likely to meet a unicycle riding cat juggling flaming torches than actually seeing a dr/nurse x
 
Thank you for your reply. I have ‘long covid’ but the fatigue is worsening. My waking bloods are 8, between 5.8 and 7.1 before a meal and then between 9 and 14 2 hours after eating . I will try and get an appt but I’m more likely to meet a unicycle riding cat juggling flaming torches than actually seeing a dr/nurse x
Have your ferritin levels checked, your Vit D and B12.
I have been feeling fatigued for a while and have just found out my ferritin is low and my thyroid T3 test showed low too. Good luck with your blood tests and don’t wait too long. I was so tired that I did mine privately in the end with medichecks.
 
Thank you for your reply. I have ‘long covid’ but the fatigue is worsening. My waking bloods are 8, between 5.8 and 7.1 before a meal and then between 9 and 14 2 hours after eating . I will try and get an appt but I’m more likely to meet a unicycle riding cat juggling flaming torches than actually seeing a dr/nurse x
With levels in those ranges, fatigue isn't odd... Add LC in there as well and the air turns to molasses when you try to walk through it. If you start low carbing, it can get a bit worse at first, so don't be alarmed if that happens. It does get better after a week or two, when your blood sugars normalise and your body can utilise fuel from other things than carbohydrates. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html should help get the blood sugars back into the normal range.

Is your LC being treated, and if yes, how? How long have you had it? Because if you have been laid up for the most part for a long time, you've also missed out on a lot of vitamin d from the sun, which in turn can make fatigue that much worse, and add in bone pain and other such wonderful medical marvels. If you can get an appointment, or can get a call in for a bloodwork form, ask for vitamin d to be checked, alongside anything else you may request.

I do hope you'll feel better soon!
Jo
 
There is some great advice above.
I wanted to add one more thing - anxiety.
Being diagnosed with a medical condition like diabetes is a big thing which will make many of us anxious, making us worry and lose out on sleep and be just exhausting.
I have seen others talk about going through grief when they get their diabetes diagnosis. If this is the case for you, let yourself grieve and be kind to yourself.

Take care.
 
There is some great advice above.
I wanted to add one more thing - anxiety.
Being diagnosed with a medical condition like diabetes is a big thing which will make many of us anxious, making us worry and lose out on sleep and be just exhausting.
I have seen others talk about going through grief when they get their diabetes diagnosis. If this is the case for you, let yourself grieve and be kind to yourself.

Take care.
I still grieve my diabetes off and on comes in waves where I will cry a lot and get angry I have this. And still get scared, it’s been 11 years and still feel the fear. Now with your sugars after eating that’s a bit high. Get a check up with your doctor.
 
If you would run through the kinds of food/drink you are having, we might be able to share some tweaks to improve how you are feeling.
 
Have your ferritin levels checked, your Vit D and B12.
I have been feeling fatigued for a while and have just found out my ferritin is low and my thyroid T3 test showed low too. Good luck with your blood tests and don’t wait too long. I was so tired that I did mine privately in the end with medichecks.

Many years ago, before I became T2, I was in & out of the GPs as I was so tired. I turned out to be slightly anaemic, but also to have low Vitamin D levels for the time of the year. My T3 was fine. I now take D3 most days from September to April and not only did it gradually resolve the tiredness, I got far fewer headaches. You can buy it cheaply on the Internet. The GP (at least then) could only prescribe a low-ish dose in combination with calcium.
 
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