Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I manage fatigue with diabetes?

    Related Topics
    Endocrinology Type 2 Diabetes
    I am constantly tired even when I am not moving. It's extremely frustrating and upsetting. I've tried drinking caffeine but it doesn't really help.
    • 2 answers
    • Chris Fonda
    • Dung Pham
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Chris Fonda

    Dietitian, Nutritionist, Sports Dietitian

    As an Accredited Sports Dietitian, APD and athlete (springboard diver), Chris has both professional and personal experience in sport at the sub-elite and elite level.Chris … View Profile

    This is a hard question to answer as I don't have any medical, family or diet history to go off to make a full assessment of your situation. What type of diabetes do you have? I would suggest booking in to see an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and getting a full assessment done. You can find an APD at www.daa.asn.au

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
  • Dung Pham

    Dietitian

    Dung is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who currently works in Community Health and Private Practice as a HACC/CH dietitian and Health Coach. She has also … View Profile

    I agree with Chris that its very difficult to provide advice without a proper assessment however fatigue can happen if your blood sugar levels are high.

    when you have diabetes and there is too much glucose in your blood this can make you tired.
    Glucose is the body's main energy source. We need to get the glucose from your blood into your muscle, heart, brain etc to produce energy. When you have diabetes you have enough or too much of glucose or energy in the blood that is not getting into the cells of the muscle heart etc where it needs to be and hence you feel tired. instead of going where its suppose to be it is often wasted in the urine typically when blood sugar levels tip over about 11mmol/L/.

    therefore if your blood glucose levels are not under control then that could possible be a reason why you are tired. other common reason i see in my practice are issues with sleep with people with diabetes due to sleep apnoea, sleep disturbances or low iron levels.


    As chris pointed out getting a more thorough assesment would be needed for more accurate and individual advice 

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices