Fatigue

[domforr]

This must have been asked a million times before, but I'll ask anyway. I've been diabetic for about 4 years now and have controlled it with varying degrees of success over that period. Recently I've become a lot stricter with my diet and really reduced the carbs and my levels have dropped to what seem to be really good levels when I test now.

Prior to changing my diet I was always tired and generally felt 'off', but that seemed to abate after the levels came down. However, this past week I seem to be back to where I started, although blood sugar levels are still stable.

I'm not sure I really understand what this is about. I had a blood test recently to check if there were any other causes but everything came back fine. Is this just the fate of diabetics - often fatigued and not feeling great, or is it a possible side effect of Metformin (I'm on 3 TR tablets a day)?

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @domforr Fatigue can be linked to other conditions, if your well controlled then not necessarily diabetes, what were you tested for when you had your blood test ?

 

[domforr]

I think it was just a general overall test for Iron levels, Thyroid, Vit B etc. You're right it could be other factors, but it's not easy isolating the possible causes.

 

[There is no Spoon]

a lot stricter with my diet and really reduced the carbs

Hi domforr,
You don't say how recent this change is I felt a dip in energy when I first dropped the carbs it lasted for a couple of weeks.

Just to check with you have you upped you fat intake? Dairy fats cream cheesse etc.. contain B12 the energy vitamin
IF this is the case you have cut back on the carbs and not upped the high fat it could go to explain partly why your feeling wiped out just now.

Therese a reason it's LCFH.

 

[domforr]

True. I think I have to a degree, but maybe I need to up the fat a bit. Cutting the carbs is actually the easy bit - harder to add in things that you've been told for years are bad for you

 

[Resurgam]

Metformin does reduce the ability of the liver to release glucose - if you are still not fully adapted to running on fat - which restricting dietary fat could be delaying, you might feel weary because you are falling between two stools, not enough glucose but not got the ketosis system switched on.
I felt a lot better when I ditched the Meformin and statin tablets, I had so much more energy I even started to do housework!!!

 

[There is no Spoon]

housework!!!

I don't care were your from, you're not using language like that in here.

Go wash you mouth out with soap. :***:

 

[domforr]

My gut feeling is that this is metformin related, so I think I'm going to cut out the lunchtime tablet and just do morning and evening and see how that goes. It may be lowering my levels but if you feel terrible all the time, whats the point? Quality of life has to be part of the equation as well.

 

[Resurgam]

Don't come crying to me if you find yourself singing whilst doing the washing up - you've brought it on yourself!!!

 

[There is no Spoon]

singing whilst doing the washing up

I might offer a prayer to the god or goddess (don't want to be sexist assuming dishwaher god is a woman) that they all come out clean for once.

 

[Resurgam]

That would be Anoia - originally the goddess of things which jam cutlery drawers (see the Diskworld books by Terry Pratchett) who was lost a lot of worship due to those racks with hooks on which became very trendy at one time, so she took on the role of supervising imperfect dishwasher function.

 

[There is no Spoon]

That would be Anoia - originally the goddess of things which jam cutlery drawers (see the Diskworld books by Terry Pratchett)

Weren't we supposed to pray to her so that one pesky spatchal wouldn't get stuck in the cutlery draw making it impossible to open.