Diabetes and Fatigue

Sleepiness, weariness, tiredness or lethargy: Whatever word is used, it remains among the most common physical complaints from those who are diabetic, no matter if it is type 1 or type 2.

Diabetes is a great disruptor of energy supplies in the body. Glucose, after all, is the substance that supplies energy to cells, allowing them to do what they need to do.

Too much glucose in the bloodstream is a symptom that the cells are not accepting the glucose because of a lack of insulin. Too little glucose may be an indication that most available glucose has been used, and cells may be craving even more. Either way, the net effect is a diminished source of energy.

Additionally, other factors can cause fatigue in people who have diabetes.

Inflammation

There are a lot of comorbidities (simultaneously occurring diseases or disorders) with diabetes: obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver disease, thyroid problems, nervous system damage, and more. Most of these have the common symptom of inflammation.

When the body senses a threat – illness, injury or autoimmune disease – it responds with inflammation throughout the body as part of its immune response. Maintaining this response for an extended period of time, in an attempt to protect the body, is draining on the body's resources.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea often co-occurs with obesity. With excess fat around the neck, the throat tends to collapse when then patient relaxes. This closing of the throat, sometimes hundreds of times each night, blocks breathing. When this happens, the patient awakens, even if it is only for a second or two, until he or she starts breathing again. This constant interruption of sleep can cause a patient to fail to achieve certain deep levels of sleep, limiting rest. The person awakens groggy and often finds him or herself sleepy throughout the day.

Sleep apnea can be addressed by use of a cpap (continuous positive sir pressure) machine, which forces air, under pressure, into the throat continuously throughout the night, keeping airways open and preventing the constant waking that disturbs sleep patterns. Patients who use this machine report better wakefulness and more energy throughout the day.

Anemia

Another possible cause of exhaustion is anemia, which can often result from poor diet, or undiagnosed bleeding issues, like ulcers or gastritis. Regular monitoring by your physician, with testing of the blood, can address these possibilities.

Depression

Deep, ongoing fatigue is one of the symptoms of depression and certain other mood disorders. A diagnosis of diabetes can trigger depression in a lot of people. If you think you may be depressed, you should check with your doctor. There are very effective treatments available.

Exhaustion can limit activity with family, the ability to drive distances, and the ability to think clearly enough to get a job done. It is important to speak with your doctor about your tiredness, so that together you can come up with a diagnosis and treatment.

Sources: Diabetes Self Management and Diabetes UK