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Really tired

A

aoife_8

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Like the title says, I'm feeling really tired. Not just in a temporary sense, though - I feel constantly tired, and I feel like I'm struggling to cope. I work full-time, although my number of hours is quite low for full-time work (35) - and it wears me out. I'm doing something not bad, which I can do, and the job doesn't involve any real physical work other than walking back and forth to the printer. But I keep getting home, and feeling completely drained, and I have to drag myself out of bed every morning to get to work, feeling tired before I've even started. I've had to have an occupational health review because of my absences, and I feel like I'm going to be given the boot after a few more absences, and I'll end up skint and on unemployment benefit again. It'd be nice to work part-time but my work is short-staffed as it is, and my boss didn't like the idea when I previously brought it up. Not to mention most of the jobs in my line of work are full-time, and the industry in general is apparently not very understanding of health problems. To be honest, I feel stuck, and worn-out - and I'm not even that old yet! Does anyone else feel the same way?
 
Yes. I do, on occasion.

For me, the usual main culprit is eating too many carbs (type 2, low carbing for diet control). What are your blood glucose levels? Or having a hypo.

The second contender is lack of sleep and overwork.
Then there's stress and boredom.

It might also be vit D deficiency, depression, or a combo of any of them.

Have you seen your doctor?
 
I have... but apparently there's nothing wrong with any of the levels of things in my blood (except glucose - I'm type 1 diabetic - forgot to mention that in the first post). My levels tend to vary from 6 to 15, so quite a lot... but they were 31 this morning and I really struggled. I think it was a cereal bar that I maybe digested too quickly... or something from the previous night. I just hate that nobody seems to understand how tired I am - they think I should be full of energy, and I feel like people just think I'm lazy. But I'm not!
 
Hi @aoife_8 I get that tired feeling when I hit levels from 8.5. It comes on quick and is my first "wake up call" to do something about it. This happens when I overload with carbs (I normally keep them under 7.8 at my peaks). So your tiredness may well be related to your elevated levels.
 
It sounds to me like your not keeping control and going too high, BUT it also sounds to me like you dont enjoy your work, at all. There needs to be some job satisfaction or it can really get you down. Maybe whilst you try to get your Bg under better control you should consider looking for a new job?
 
No wonder you struggled if your BG was at 31!

I'm afraid I can't give any suggestions on controlling BG for a type 1, but there are plenty of very helpful type 1s on this forum, so hopefully one of them will be along soon.

In the meantime, it might help if you described what you usually eat, and what your insulin doses are, along with any other medication.

 
31 is very high. Did you do anything different.
 
Hi. Do I detect a hint of depression in what you say? I wonder whether you need to discuss this with the GP. Regular absence from work is not good and does need help and support in the community. As someone else said, is the job well matched to your needs? Your blood sugar control is not as good as it should be; is there any way we can suggest ways to improve it?
 
Thanks, everyone.
I've thought of getting a new job, but I've got a few other health conditions other than diabetes (depression and migraines being the most significant) and I'm scared I'd never make it through the consultation period (because I'd be off too often). Also, if the hours were any more than 35, I'd struggle.
In the morning, I usually have a yogurt, and then have a Subway 6" sandwich for lunch. Tea varies but is usually a pizza or a pie of some sort with carrots and/or broccoli, but also with chips, which I could maybe do to cut out. I snack a bit in the evenings, and find myself with cravings for unhealthy things.
I've had endless meetings with diabetes specialists getting annoyed at me for not testing enough, but no matter how determined I get after being told to test more, I just end up forgetting all the time or feeling like it's not worth it. Stupid, I know. But I never seem to change.

Edit - Missed a couple of comments there. Not sure how the 31 mmol/l came about, but sometimes if I don't sleep well, or if I underestimate how much insulin my dinner needs, that causes it. It's unbelievable how hard it is to get out of bed with levels like that, but I usually manage to get there.
Also, suggestions are welcome, but I've not got a good track record of holding myself to them... still, they're welcome!

Double edit - I do have a long history of depression, and would describe myself as depressed, yes. I feel loath to say that the job might not meet my needs, because there are so many jobs I'd find much, much worse, and I enjoy bits of it (more than any other job I've had). It'd be nice to have one that I could work from home with, though.
 
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Chronic high blood sugar will make you feel like that. 31 this morning - ouch!

Get yourself on a low carb diet and you will feel like a new person.

If your sugars were not so high I would say get your thyroid checked, as thyroid problems are common with T1 diabetics.
 
Just for info - pie is the worst thing I eat and has the biggest impact on my BG levels. It is worse than the chips for me which basically raise me very little. I would drop the pie in preference to a nice chop or steak. I know you have said you are type 1 so do you need to revisit your insulin doses for the food you are eating. You should not be going anywhere near the levels you are seeing. Hopefully a T1 will be along to help soon
 
Hmm... Come to think of it, whenever I increase my insulin, I end up getting hypos, which people keep asking me to 'explain' and they seem to make me feel like I've done something wrong. I should know they're just misinformed, and should keep with it, but I've never managed it yet. But there's time yet...
 
Check thyroid thoroughly including antibodies. Also get vitamin D and vitamin B12 and folate checked.

Fatigue and depression are known symptoms of all the above,
 
What insulin are you prescribed ?

And how much basal do you use daily ?

Do you know what your ratio of bolus per gram of carbohydrate is ?

Sorry for the questions, but is does seem that one aspect of your tiredness is your BG levels .

Signy
 
It's no wonder your feeling tired with your bg swinging from high to low, if your on a basal/bolus regime you need to start adjusting your insulin doses to stop these fluctuations, you would start off with some basal testing then work on your insulin doses at meal-times.

If you've not done a carb counting course such as DAFNE before then I strongly suggest you ask your nurse to enrol you on the next course, in the mean-time have a look at the following which is an on-line carb counting course similar to DAFNE:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
I think I've had my thyroid checked as part of one of my recent blood tests, but I could be wrong. I'll have it checked anyway.

I'm prescribed NovoRapid and Lantus, and I tend to take 8 - 12 units of NovoRapid with meals and 31 units of Lantus per day.

Edit - The DAFNE suggestion has always sounded interesting, but the thought of spending a week of holiday on a course with a load of strangers has always put me off.
 
Hi Aoife

This business of guesstimating 8-12 Novorapid just doesn't work. It's not your fault as it's no doubt what you were told to do. But you need to get on to carb counting, frequent testing, and do DAFNE.

I recognise your symptoms and situation so clearly, from my own life, that I can assure you that most if not all of what you are struggling with comes from the lack of blood sugar control. And I can assure you that getting a grip on this will turn your life around.

Please get signed up for DAFNE. In the meantime do one of the online courses, and start testing regularly, every day. At least 3-4 times a day. If you do one thing, just for yourself, do that.

There is loads of support here to help you. You can completely change your life for the better.
 
I know exactly how tired you are mate I had the same and was really depressed and soooooo tired constantly and as it turned out I had a water infection so was given anti biotics and bammm energy levels increased and I feel great again so my advice get your urine checked for an infection
 
I'm type 2, not type 1.
But I originally went to the doctors as I was so tired I could barely stay awake in the day. Actually I couldn't.
That's what eventually led onto the diagnosis of diabetes.
I have got my BS under control, and I'm a different person.
 
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