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Extreme tiredness and depression

P

Petronica

Member
Messages
24
Location
Stockport
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Being diabetic!
I was diagnosed with T2 in 2012. I've lost weight, put it back on, lost weight and put it back on again. I have more and more days (several each week and today is one), when I feel like sh...., tired, yawning, eyes aching, no energy, and extremely depressed. It's really hard to tell whether these symptoms are the effects of T2, or of depression, and therefore how best to treat them.
 
Hi @Petronica ,

Firstly, are you testing your blood glucose levels? If not, I think you should consider getting a meter as it's important to understand how various things relate. Do you have any readings?

High glucose levels can affect our emotions, some become tetchy, others feel symptoms of depression. Get your glucose levels down and it might just sort out any feelings of depression (no guarantees on this though.)

Your tiredness might also be related to high glucose levels. This is because your body is not extracting the energy it needs from the food you're consuming. Of course, there are many readings why you might be suffering from tiredness.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm not saying that this will work for you, but since I've been on a Low-carb diet I've found that I am really buzzing with positivity. I think partly that's due to my energy levels being so high but also, after one particularly emotional day I realised that having my BG under control had actually got rid of a dark cloud I'd been under without being really aware of it - that of a very unpleasant prognosis and premature death. I realised I had a had a load taken off my mind.

Also, now I've lost so much weight and got fit again, I've become a sex god (think Gerard Butler in the 300) which is nice.
 
Hello @Petronica,

I've had similar issue to you, apart from one, the depression.

I now test my blood regularly and have gone a step further I log all my food on an app on my phone.
Called My Fitness Pal, I have found this very useful, in the last three weeks I also invested in a Jawbone UP3.
This is very handy to help understand, eating in the evening can affect your sleeping pattern and how in turn this will affect you morning BS level.

I now sleep better, get more exercise, eat better.
In turn my BS levels have come right down. Average between 5.5 and 6, and I feel more like my old self again.



Sent from my Nexus 5 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
urbanracer said:
Hi @Petronica ,

Firstly, are you testing your blood glucose levels? If not, I think you should consider getting a meter as it's important to understand how various things relate. Do you have any readings?

High glucose levels can affect our emotions, some become tetchy, others feel symptoms of depression. Get your glucose levels down and it might just sort out any feelings of depression (no guarantees on this though.)

Your tiredness might also be related to high glucose levels. This is because your body is not extracting the energy it needs from the food you're consuming. Of course, there are many readings why you might be suffering from tiredness.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your reply. I used to test but haven't done so for some time, and I think, as you suggest, I should start doing so again. Thanks too for pointing out that the tiredness could be related to high blood glucose levels. I think I have been in denial for some time and need to try to get back on track!
 
ChrisSamsDad said:
I'm not saying that this will work for you, but since I've been on a Low-carb diet I've found that I am really buzzing with positivity. I think partly that's due to my energy levels being so high but also, after one particularly emotional day I realised that having my BG under control had actually got rid of a dark cloud I'd been under without being really aware of it - that of a very unpleasant prognosis and premature death. I realised I had a had a load taken off my mind.

Also, now I've lost so much weight and got fit again, I've become a sex god (think Gerard Butler in the 300) which is nice.
Click to expand...

Great stuff! Your positivity is very encouraging!
 
welcome @Petronica - if you've already got a plan in place for your diabetes management and you know what your sugar levels are, etc... it could be that you have another health issue going on to? Eg. I have iron malabsorption and when I'm low in iron I'm extremely tired and get so bad that I spin out often. I quite literally struggle to function at all when I'm real low. But so many other things can cause extreme tiredness as well. Then of course it could just be the diabetes and depression. I have depression too (I haven't listed it in my list as I tend to ignore it being honest... but I've been advised my depression and anxiety is more circumstantial and not clinical as advised by 2 clinical psychs I've been to in the past. My main reason for depression is that I'm sick so much... if I wasn't sick as much I'm sure I'd not be depressed like I've been. I did dispute that diagnosis for a bit that I was given but got that 2nd opinion and finally accepted yes ok maybe I do have depression. Anyhow I'm probably rambling as extremely tired here myself. I wish you the best... I'm sure you'll find things that will help. :)
 
Deff Jeff said:
Hello @Petronica,

I've had similar issue to you, apart from one, the depression.

I now test my blood regularly and have gone a step further I log all my food on an app on my phone.
Called My Fitness Pal, I have found this very useful, in the last three weeks I also invested in a Jawbone UP3.
This is very handy to help understand, eating in the evening can affect your sleeping pattern and how in turn this will affect you morning BS level.

I now sleep better, get more exercise, eat better.
In turn my BS levels have come right down. Average between 5.5 and 6, and I feel more like my old self again.



Sent from my Nexus 5 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
Click to expand...
Great to hear about the success you've had. Unfortunately I find my eating habits deteriorate when my mood drops and then it becomes a bit of a vicious circle. Good point about evening eating and how this can affect sleep and next day BG levels, as I ate quite late yesterday. Thank you
 
Mep said:
welcome @Petronica - if you've already got a plan in place for your diabetes management and you know what your sugar levels are, etc... it could be that you have another health issue going on to? Eg. I have iron malabsorption and when I'm low in iron I'm extremely tired and get so bad that I spin out often. I quite literally struggle to function at all when I'm real low. But so many other things can cause extreme tiredness as well. Then of course it could just be the diabetes and depression. I have depression too (I haven't listed it in my list as I tend to ignore it being honest... but I've been advised my depression and anxiety is more circumstantial and not clinical as advised by 2 clinical psychs I've been to in the past. My main reason for depression is that I'm sick so much... if I wasn't sick as much I'm sure I'd not be depressed like I've been. I did dispute that diagnosis for a bit that I was given but got that 2nd opinion and finally accepted yes ok maybe I do have depression. Anyhow I'm probably rambling as extremely tired here myself. I wish you the best... I'm sure you'll find things that will help. :)[/QUOTE

Many thanks for your input. You have a lot of ill health to cope with and I wish you well.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Petronica, I don't usually post on this forum (no time), but I do lurk now and again...

Please ask your doctor to be tested for thyroid issues. My TSH started to rise *before* I had any overt thyroid symptoms. You should be able to see what your TSH has been in the past and although it may be "in range", that doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for you personally. It's all too easy for us to put things down to diabetes when there may be something else going on too.

After being treated for autoimmune thyroid disease, I still didn't feel good and it's taken some time to get my levels right (still working on it), but I also developed a vitamin B12 deficiency too, which can cause the same symptoms. So, please go and ask for a thyroid screen. If your TSH is raised, ask to have thyroid antibodies checked as well as vitamin B12 status.

Any other symptoms?

Fiona :-)
 

Mep said:
welcome @Petronica - if you've already got a plan in place for your diabetes management and you know what your sugar levels are, etc... it could be that you have another health issue going on to? Eg. I have iron malabsorption and when I'm low in iron I'm extremely tired and get so bad that I spin out often. I quite literally struggle to function at all when I'm real low. But so many other things can cause extreme tiredness as well. Then of course it could just be the diabetes and depression. I have depression too (I haven't listed it in my list as I tend to ignore it being honest... but I've been advised my depression and anxiety is more circumstantial and not clinical as advised by 2 clinical psychs I've been to in the past. My main reason for depression is that I'm sick so much... if I wasn't sick as much I'm sure I'd not be depressed like I've been. I did dispute that diagnosis for a bit that I was given but got that 2nd opinion and finally accepted yes ok maybe I do have depression. Anyhow I'm probably rambling as extremely tired here myself. I wish you the best... I'm sure you'll find things that will help. :)
Click to expand...

Many thanks for your input. I hope things improve for you soon.
 
efaitch said:
Hi Petronica, I don't usually post on this forum (no time), but I do lurk now and again...

Please ask your doctor to be tested for thyroid issues. My TSH started to rise *before* I had any overt thyroid symptoms. You should be able to see what your TSH has been in the past and although it may be "in range", that doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for you personally. It's all too easy for us to put things down to diabetes when there may be something else going on too.

After being treated for autoimmune thyroid disease, I still didn't feel good and it's taken some time to get my levels right (still working on it), but I also developed a vitamin B12 deficiency too, which can cause the same symptoms. So, please go and ask for a thyroid screen. If your TSH is raised, ask to have thyroid antibodies checked as well as vitamin B12 status.

Any other symptoms?

Fiona :)
Click to expand...
Thanks Fiona. I am due for my annual diabetic review so I could ask about it then. I have previously had a course of injections for Vit B12 deficiency which was picked up quite by accident (not at diabetic review) when I had a blood test for a non-related condition. Since then I've tried to include Vit B12 rich foods in my diet. I don't how the deficiency developed in the first place but I understand is it quite common in older people. I'm 63 now.
 
Petronica said:
Thanks for your reply. I used to test but haven't done so for some time, and I think, as you suggest, I should start doing so again. Thanks too for pointing out that the tiredness could be related to high blood glucose levels. I think I have been in denial for some time and need to try to get back on track!
Click to expand...
Hiya, yes too many carbs always makes me fall asleep. I think it would definitely help to start testing again, as then you cannot be in denial about what you are eating! I have found energy levels increasing the more weight I lose and the more exercise I do.
 
Petronica said:
Thanks Fiona. I am due for my annual diabetic review so I could ask about it then. I have previously had a course of injections for Vit B12 deficiency which was picked up quite by accident (not at diabetic review) when I had a blood test for a non-related condition. Since then I've tried to include Vit B12 rich foods in my diet. I don't how the deficiency developed in the first place but I understand is it quite common in older people. I'm 63 now.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that my thyroid problem caused my vitamin B12 deficiency. There are some medications that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, including long term use of metformin as well as proton pump inhibitors (such as lansoprazole etc.).

Plus, thyroid function declines with age in general.

Hope you get to the bottom of it :-)
 
What medication are you on?

I found that statins made me very tired and sluggish. Simvastatin more or less turned me into a zombie.
 
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