what i can do if the patient diabetes report has tired

• Make an appointment with your doctor. There could be many reasons why you are feeling fatigued. ...
• Monitor blood sugars and look for patterns of lows or highs. ...
• Try some exercise. Scientists have found that regular exercise can really help in reducing fatigue and can also help us feel happier.
• Involve your family. Ask them if they have noticed any changes in you. Get them onboard with activities such as walking, cycling or even cooking healthier meal options together.

Full Answer

How can I manage diabetes and fatigue at the same time?

Healthy lifestyle habits, social support, and mental health therapies can positively impact diabetes and fatigue at the same time. Healthy lifestyle habits are at the heart of good health.

How do I know if I need help coping with diabetes?

Dealing with diabetes can add to these feelings and make you feel overwhelmed. Having these feelings for more than a week or two may signal that you need help coping with your diabetes so that you can feel better. Talk with your health care providers about your feelings.

How can I manage sleep problems caused by diabetes?

Aim for quality sleep. As many as half of all people with diabetes may have trouble sleeping, Fritschi says. If you’re not sleeping well at night, you're going to be tired during the day. Modifying your evening routine and sleep environment can help you get more rest.

Is diabetes making you tired?

Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night’s sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.

What does it mean when a diabetic is tired?

When there is not enough insulin, or the insulin isn't working effectively, it means the sugar in our blood cannot get into our cells and therefore our cells do not receive the energy they need. As a result, we feel tired.

How do diabetic patients get energy?

These include regular exercise, nutrition, and weight management. All these can help boost energy while also controlling your blood sugar. According to a 2012 study, there was a significant correlation between a high body mass index (BMI) score and fatigue in women with type 2 diabetes.

Do diabetics get tired easily?

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms associated with poorly controlled blood sugar. Wind up your energy levels by paying attention to your blood glucose levels. If you have type 2 diabetes and you're feeling tired, you're not alone. Fatigue is a symptom that's often associated with the condition.

What foods give diabetics energy?

What superstar foods are good for diabetes?Beans. Kidney, pinto, navy or black beans are packed with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. ... Dark green leafy vegetables. ... Citrus fruit. ... Berries. ... Tomatoes. ... Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. ... Nuts. ... Whole grains.More items...

How can I boost my energy when tired?

Consult a GP for advice.Eat often to beat tiredness. ... Get moving. ... Lose weight to gain energy. ... Sleep well. ... Reduce stress to boost energy. ... Talking therapy beats fatigue. ... Cut out caffeine. ... Drink less alcohol.More items...

What is the best vitamin for diabetics?

What are the best vitamins for people with diabetes?Thiamin (b1) Those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to have lower blood levels of thiamin and usually suffer a higher risk of thiamin deficiency than people who don't have diabetes. ... Vitamin B12. ... Vitamin D. ... Magnesium. ... Vitamin E. ... Vitamin C.

What should diabetics eat for weakness?

What are the best foods for people with diabetes, and what should be avoided?Green, leafy vegetables.Whole grains.Fatty fish.Beans.Walnuts.Citrus fruits.Berries.Sweet potatoes.More items...

What are symptoms of tiredness?

Common symptoms associated with fatigue can include:aching or sore muscles.apathy and a lack of motivation.daytime drowsiness.difficulty concentrating or learning new tasks.gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea.headache.irritability or moodiness.slowed response time.More items...

How to manage fatigue from diabetes?

eating a healthful diet. practicing good sleep hygiene with regular bedtimes, 7 to 9 hours sleep, and unwinding before bed. managing and limiting stress. seeking support from friends and family. To reduce fatigue, it is also essential for a person to properly manage their diabetes and any related conditions.

Why do people with diabetes feel fatigued?

Causes of fatigue can include high or low blood sugar levels, depression, being overweight, certain medications, and coinciding medical conditions. While fatigue can interfere with a person’s daily life, controlling blood sugar levels and putting in place lifestyle changes can improve ...

What percentage of people with type 2 diabetes report fatigue as a symptom?

According to the American Diabetes Association, research shows that 61 percent of people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes report fatigue as a symptom. The same study found that fatigue is the second most common symptom in this group. In this article, we look at the links between diabetes and fatigue.

Why do diabetics need glucose?

The cells need glucose to provide energy. Fatigue and weakness might result when the cells do not get enough glucose. Diabetes medications, such as insulin or metformin, help more of this sugar to move into the cells and prevent it from building to harmful levels in the blood. A potential side effect of diabetes medications is low blood sugar, ...

What medications can cause fatigue?

Medications that can lead to fatigue include the following. Trusted Source. : Corticosteroids: A person with diabetes might need to take corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to treat the inflammation, pain, and discomfort that develop due to other conditions and diseases.

Why does the pancreas not produce enough insulin?

In people with diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body does not use insulin effectively. Cells need insulin to absorb glucose from the blood. If the cells do not take in enough glucose, it can build up in the blood. The cells need glucose to provide energy.

What is T2D Healthline?

T2D Healthline is a free app that provides support through one-on-one conversations and live group discussions with others living with type 2 diabetes. Download the app for iPhone or Android.

How to know if you are tired after eating?

If tiredness is accompanied by high blood glucose levels after meals, it can indicate one or more of the following: 1 The carbohydrate you are eating is too quick acting for you medication to cope with 2 You are eating too much carbohydrate for your medication/dosage 3 Your medication/dosage is not strong enough

Why is insulin needed?

To provide us with energy, insulin is needed to transport glucose from blood into our cells to be used for energy.

Can insulin cause hypoglycemia?

For people on insulin, hypoglycemia can also occur if insulin is injected (or bolused) too soon before eating.

Is tiredness a symptom of diabetes?

Tiredness as a symptom of diabetes. Regular tiredness, particularly tiredness following meals, is a common symptom of diabetes. Read more on the symptoms of diabetes.

Can you change your medication dosage?

You should only change your medication dosage if your doctor has approved you to.

Can blood sugar fluctuate overnight?

Blood sugar levels can fluctuate overnight and your doctor or diabetes specialist should be able to advise if your sugar levels are causing any problems.

How to reduce fatigue with diabetes?

This limits complications and also provides your body with the fuel that it needs to operate. You can also eat smart and exercise. Exercise actually decreases fatigue up to 65%.

Why is it so hard to get tired with diabetes?

Having physical, emotional, and lifestyle risk factors makes it very difficult for people with diabetes to avoid fatigue. Many people experience multiple problems that cause fatigue, such as sleep apnea and anxiety. Dealing with both of these makes it even harder to overcome the fatigue. This is why it is the most common symptom of diabetes.

Why do people with diabetes stop taking insulin?

Fatigue can cause someone to lose motivation to take care of themselves. They stop checking their blood sugar like they should or do things for themselves that they know they should because they are just too tired. Insulin dosages are skipped or not given accurately because of the time and energy that it takes to do it correctly. It is very important for all individuals with fatigue to find a solution, but it is even more important for those people with diabetes because of the risk of complications due to non-compliance.

What is fatigue in diabetes?

As it was mentioned above, diabetes fatigue is an extreme tiredness that individuals with diabetes can experience. It is a tiredness that disrupts a person’s life and makes it difficult to function. It is very common, and studies have shown that 85% of those with diabetes experience fatigue.

Why is insulin not given correctly?

Insulin dosages are skipped or not given accurately because of the time and energy that it takes to do it correctly. It is very important for all individuals with fatigue to find a solution, but it is even more important for those people with diabetes because of the risk of complications due to non-compliance.

Why is it important to minimize complications from diabetes?

The main goal is to try to minimize complications from diabetes such as kidney disease and nerve damage because of the increase in the risk of fatigue that they bring. The main goal is to regain a level of energy that allows you to function and manage your disease and your life.

Why does diabetes cause fatigue?

When this happens, fatigue is going to be a problem. One of the biggest reasons that diabetes causes fatigue is because of its complications.

How to get tired from sugar?

Sugars and refined grains leave you tired. Consider eating a lower-carbohydrate diet. • Shift work. Changing hours of sleep and activity confuses your body, and it may be difficult to get the sleep you need. • Overdoing things. Running yourself ragged will wear you out. • Depression.

What is the most common symptom of diabetes?

Fatigue is one of the most common and most disabling symptoms of diabetes. What causes all this exhaustion and how can we get our energy back? Some studies have reported that as many as 85% of people with diabetes experience fatigue, defined as excessive tiredness that interferes with one or more life functions.

How to bring down sugar?

Do what you can to bring your sugar down, whether it’s diet, exercise, supplements, or medicines. • Get tested for anemia, thyroid, and other possible causes of your fatigue. • Ask a pharmacist if your medications could be causing fatigue. • Try juicing.

Can diabetes cause fatigue?

• The mental stress of coping with diabetes can wear out your mind and spirit. Many other conditions besides diabetes can cause fatigue.

What is the cause of fatigue in diabetics?

Fatigue in diabetes may be associated with physiological phenomena, such as hypo- or hyperglycemia or wide swings between the two. Fatigue may also be related to psychological factors, such as depression or emotional distress related to the diagnosis or to the intensity of diabetes self-management regimens.

What is a literature search containing the terms diabetes, fatigue, tiredness, and symptoms?

A literature search containing the terms diabetes, fatigue, tiredness, and symptoms was conducted to search for literature that addressed diabetes-related fatigue.

How many people have diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus, a major public health problem, affects approximately 6% of the world's adult population, and is increasing in epidemic proportions.1, 2Among people with diabetes, fatigue is a pervasive and distressing complaint.

What is peripheral fatigue?

A common view is that fatigue results from one or a combination of peripheral physiologic processes--alone or in combination with the brain and/or its neurological systems. Fatigue has been distinguished as “peripheral” and “central” depending on which processes and systems are involved. Peripheral fatigue has been described as a purely physiologic phenomenon, involving an end organ such as skeletal or cardiac muscle and has been defined as “the decline in muscle tension (force) capacity with repeated stimulation” (p. 400).19Peripheral fatigue, such as that seen in skeletal muscle, occurs from a combination of neurological, musculoskeletal, and metabolic aberrations, such as reductions in hepatic or muscular glycogen stores, reduced oxygen consumption during activity, and muscle fiber changes resulting from physical inactivity or aging.

What is fatigue in psychology?

Within the scientific literature, definitions of fatigue vary greatly, and defining fatigue becomes more challenging because there is poor differentiation among causes, indicators, and effects 1, 2. Fatigue has largely been defined as either a subjective symptom or an objective performance decrement 3, but has also been identified as a syndrome unto itself (chronic fatigue syndrome). Fatigue is generally acknowledged to be complex and/or multifaceted 4-6, encompassing physiological, psychological , and situational components , such as life or work events 4-13.

What are the complications of diabetes?

Many of the chronic complications associated with diabetes are associated with fatigue. Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States 45. Anemia, the major side effect of impaired kidney function, results in increased fatigue.

Which psychological variables are most likely associated with diabetes related fatigue?

The proposed fatigue research framework (Figure 1) suggests that there are two key psychological variables that are most likely associated with diabetes-related fatigue: diabetes emotional distress and depressive symptoms.

What do you do when you have diabetes?

When you have diabetes, your daily to-do list can seem like a lot. You track your blood sugar, take medicine, watch your diet, and exercise. It can make you feel overwhelmed and burned out. If you’re there:

How to help someone with diabetes?

In addition to your doctors, look for counselors or family friends who can be there for you when you feel down. Sharing stories as part of a diabetes support group can be very helpful.

Why do people with type 1 diabetes feel distress?

Other common sources of diabetes distress among people with type 1 diabetes include: Worry about what those around them assume. Concern about access to good health care. Perceived lack of support from family or friends, or feeling like they’re the “diabetes police”. Fear of dangerously low blood sugar.

What is the most common cause of diabetes distress?

He cites seven common sources of diabetes distress among people with type 1 diabetes. The most common is a feeling of helplessness.

Why is diabetes unique?

“Diabetes is unique because [you’re] actually making medical decisions, day-to-day, minute-to-minute, ” says Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD, a clinical health psychologist.

What does it feel like to have type 2 diabetes?

He found that people with type 2 diabetes also had a feeling of helplessness. A sense of failure and negative social perceptions were other common sources of bother among type 2 folks, he says.

How to avoid burnout?

Set realistic goals. That’s important to avoid burnout. It can mean taking a big goal and breaking it into more manageable pieces. “Taking small steps to achieve a larger goal often makes sense,” says McAuliffe-Fogarty, who has type 1 diabetes. If you need to lose 50 pounds, shoot for 2 pounds a month, she says.

How to deal with diabetes?

To deal with diabetes distress, make a list of all of the tasks you have to do to take care of yourself each day. Try to work on each task separately, one at a time. Pace yourself. As you work on your goals, like increasing physical activity, take it slowly. You don’t have to meet your goals immediately.

How to help someone with diabetes?

If you notice that you’re feeling frustrated, tired, and unable to make decisions about your diabetes care, take action. Tell your family, friends, and health care providers. They can help you get the support you need.

How to deal with being judged by others for diabetes?

Talk to your health care providers about negative reactions other people may have about your diabetes. Your health care providers can help you manage feelings of being judged by others because you have diabetes. It is important not to feel that you have to hide your diabetes from other people.

How to cope with diabetes stress?

10 Tips for Coping with Diabetes Distress. Managing diabetes can be hard. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed. Having diabetes means that you need to check your blood sugar levels often, make healthy food choices, be physically active, remember to take your medicine, and make other good decisions about your health several times a day.

What is the best way to cope with diabetes?

The good news is that there are things you can do to cope with diabetes and manage stress. When all of this feels like too much to deal with, you may have something called diabetes distress. This is when all the worry, frustration, anger, and burnout makes it hard for you to take care of yourself and keep up with the daily demands of diabetes. ...

How long does it take to feel overwhelmed with diabetes?

Dealing with diabetes can add to these feelings and make you feel overwhelmed. Having these feelings for more than a week or two may signal that you need help coping with your diabetes so that you can feel better. Talk with your health care providers about your feelings.

How to tell a doctor you are tired?

When talking to your doctor about how you feel, don’t just say, “I’m tired all the time.” Tell your doctor, 'I’m too tired to go for a walk or go grocery shopping,'” says Cynthia Fritschi, PhD, CDCES , an associate professor of biobehavioral nursing science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Let your doctor know that exhaustion is preventing you from doing activities that are important to keeping you healthy.

How to help someone with diabetes?

Discussing day-to-day challenges, worries, and emotions with peers who have experienced similar situations can help you manage stress and brainstorm coping strategies, suggests the American Diabetes Association. Ask your diabetes educator about local support groups or become a member of an diabetes online community for virtual conversation.

Why do diabetics wake up at night?

As many as half of all people with diabetes may have trouble sleeping , Fritschi says. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all contribute to insomnia, while frequently having to wake up in the night to urinate can also worsen overall sleep quality. If you’re not sleeping well at night, you're going to be tired during the day.

How to keep track of diabetes?

Try keeping a journal to track your symptoms: How many times do you get up at night to go to the bathroom? Are you skipping meals because you’re too tired to stand and prepare them? Take detailed notes on your daily habits and use your journal to talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about concerns that make living with type 2 diabetes harder for you, she says.

How much more likely is fatigue in type 2 diabetes?

After all, people with type 2 diabetes are roughly 10 times more likely to experience fatigue compared with those without the chronic condition, according to a study on adults with the condition.

How to get blood sugar levels up?

Talk to your doctor. First things first: Evaluate your blood sugar levels and work with your primary care doctor or endocrinologist to get them into healthy ranges, if they aren’t already. If your blood sugar is in a healthy range, however, it’s important to work with your doctor to figure out exactly what’s going on for you, Adimoolam says. ...

How much more likely is diabetes to cause depression?

According to a study of 90,686 people published in the February-March 2016 issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, people with diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience depression compared with people without the condition. If you feel burdened and depressed by diabetes, consider getting professional help.