Recovering From Diabetes Fatigue
Fatigue is so important. I was going to write a whole book about it, but I’m too tired. So what to do? Fortunately, it turns out there are many ways to overcome fatigue. That’s good news, because people with diabetes are often fatigued, and it’s disabling. As I discussed two weeks ago, blood sugar levels that are too high or too low will cause fatigue. Other diabetes-related causes are inflammation, lack of sleep, insulin resistance, infections, circulation problems, medication side effects, depression, and stress. Low thyroid and low testosterone levels also cause fatigue and are common in people with diabetes. So what to do depends partly on the causes. Still, many fatigued people would benefit from moving more. I know that sounds crazy. When you’re exhausted, who wants to exercise? But I’m not talking about vigorous training for a triathlon kind of exercise. I’m talking about treating yourself gently, and moving your body in ways that feel good. Studies show that gentle exercise reduces fatigue by up to 65%. Gentle exercise is actually more energizing than vigorous exercise, according to this University of Georgia study. It could be tai chi or qigong, water exercise, yoga, walking, or seated exercises, or anything else that feels good. I have a lake near me, where it’s fun to go watch the birds. Maybe you have a place like that to walk. Or a mall or something. Being completely sedentary makes you more tired. You get more out of shape, so it gets harder and harder to move. To feel better, you don’t even need formal exercise. Housework can be turned into a form of exercise just by concentrating on the movements as you do them, instead of stressing about how dirty everything is. Fatigue specialist Majid Ali, MD, says that exercise should be “slow, sust Continue reading >>
Muscle Fatigue And Leg Weakness In Chronic Kidney Disease And Diabetic Patients
Muscle fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, exhaustion or lack of energy in legs or arms that makes you get tired even after a few steps. It can greatly impact your quality of life, making you fell like not doing ANYTHING except resting to regain your strength - only to find that you still feel weak afterward. One viewer wrote, "Just wondering, does anyone else deal with constant fatigue in their legs? My appetite and numbers are both fine, and I feel pretty good otherwise, but when it comes to walking around I can only take a few steps and then I feel exhausted. I really need a solution." Recommended Reading: A Review of Treatments to Relieve Muscle Cramps in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis If you have Chronic Kidney Disease, you are more prone for muscle fatigue and leg weakness because your damaged or already failed kidneys cannot circulate oxygen or filter waste out of your blood. Also, High Blood Sugar has been linked to leg tiredness in those with Diabetes. Recommended Reading: CKD Patients improve Muscle Power, Leg Strength and less Fatigued by Exercising During Dialysis In either case, tiredness in the legs when walking or climbing stairs as well as cramping and pain may not sound like the symptoms of a serious condition, and in fact many people believe that they are normal signs of aging. However they can actually be signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease, a severe condition that can lead to Gangrene (bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues) and amputation if left untreated. This disease affects between 8 to 12 million Americans and those with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease are at an elevated risk. So if you have these symptoms, be sure to tell your Specialists. Recommended Reading: Foods That Stop Chronic Inflammation, Reduce Hea Continue reading >>
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment, And Causes
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is a condition of prolonged and severe tiredness or weariness. It is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. CFS is a syndrome of persistent incapacitating weakness or fatigue, accompanied by nonspecific symptoms, that lasts at least 6 months, and not attributable to any known cause. To be diagnosed with this condition, tiredness must be severe enough to decrease an individual's ability to participate in ordinary activities by 50 percent. Chronic fatigue syndrome is much more than just feeling tired often. People with CFS are so run down that it interferes with their lives and can make it hard to function at all. Literature on the condition dates back to the 1700s. Through the centuries, it's been falsely attributed to various causes and is only now beginning to be better understood. Fast facts on CFS: People with CFS have trouble staying on top of their responsibilities at home and on the job. Others are severely disabled and even bedridden. Symptoms of CFS include ones similar to common viral infections, including muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. CFS occurs most often in people aged 40-50, more often in women than men, and is less prevalent among children and adolescents. What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome? People with CFS are dealing with extreme fatigue, but also a wide range of other symptoms, including flu-like symptoms and chronic pain. When referring to chronic fatigue syndrome, patients, and patient advocates often prefer to call the condition chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) to convey the complexity of the illness. Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome come on within a few hours or days, last for 6 months or more, and can include: headaches tender lym Continue reading >>
Can Diabetes Cause Fatigue, Body Ache?
Every weekday, a CNNHealth expert doctor answers a viewer question. On Wednesdays, it's Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society. Asked by Mike from Tennessee Can diabetes be a (possible) cause of fatigue, leg and lower back aches? I have had bursts of energy for 10 to 15 minutes, but then need to sit for about 10 minutes, and I'm ready to go full steam again. PLEASE, Thank You, Mike Expert answer Dear Mike: Thanks for an important question, as a lot of people with diabetes complain of these symptoms. The answer is that diabetes itself probably is not the cause of your fatigue, lower back and leg aches. The things that cause type 2 diabetes (also called adult onset diabetes), such as a weight problem and lack of exercise, are commonly the cause these symptoms. Fatigue incorporates three components: 1. The inability to initiate activity. 2. Reduced ability to maintain activity. 3. Difficulty with concentration and memory. Fatigue should be distinguished from sleepiness, shortness of breath on exertion and muscle weakness, although these can also be associated with fatigue. Fatigue lasting six months or more is referred to as chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue is not necessarily the entity known as chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a diagnosis after exclusion of all other causes. Fatigue in anyone should be evaluated by a health care provider to exclude all possible causes and to get counseling on how to treat it. Other medical causes of fatigue are the side effect of drugs, thyroid dysfunction, high calcium levels, rheumatologic illnesses, adrenal, kidney or liver problems. Some infections such as tuberculosis or hepatitis can cause fatigue, and indeed, fatigue can be their only symptom. Depression is also a major cause of fatigue. While unus Continue reading >>
Is Diabetes Causing My Nausea?
Nausea comes in many forms. Sometimes it can be mild and short-lived. Other times, it can be severe and last for a long time. For people with diabetes, nausea is a common complaint. It can even be a sign of a life-threatening condition that requires swift medical attention. 5 common causes of nausea Factors related to your diabetes may cause you to feel nausea. Medication Metformin (Glucophage) is one of the more common medications used to treat diabetes. Nausea is a potential side effect for people taking this medication. Taking metformin on an empty stomach may make nausea worse. Injectable medications used to treat diabetes, such as exenatide (Byetta), liraglutide (Victoza), and pramlintide (Symlin), may also cause nausea. The nausea may go away after extended use. Your doctor may also start you on a lower dosage to try to reduce or eliminate nausea. Hypo- and hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels) or hypoglycemia (blood sugar levels that are too low) may cause nausea. Check your blood sugar and respond appropriately if you suspect abnormal blood sugar levels. To avoid hypo- and hyperglycemia, stick to your diabetes meal plan, monitor your blood sugar, and take your medication as prescribed. You should also avoid exercising in extreme temperatures and keep cool by drinking cold liquids during outside activities, advises Sheri Colberg, PhD, author, exercise physiologist, and expert on diabetes management. Diabetic ketoacidosis Severe nausea may be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a dangerous medical condition that must be treated to avoid coma or even death. Symptoms include: nausea excessive thirst frequent urination abdominal pain weakness or fatigue shortness of breath confusion fruity-scented breath If you suspect diabetic ketoacidosis, Continue reading >>
Always Tired? It May Be More Than A Lack Of Sleep
Wavebreakmedia/iStock.com Getting a good night’s rest is the best way to feel energized in the morning — a full eight hours is usually just what the doctor ordered. But when a full night’s rest doesn’t do the trick, some other factors could be at play. If you wake up after eight hours of sleep feeling exhausted, it could be your body’s way of telling you that something is not right. The issue could be more than just a lack of sleep — it could be a health condition. Dehydration Before diagnosing yourself with a serious ailment, try drinking more water throughout the day. One of the most under-diagnosed causes of fatigue is dehydration. Not drinking enough water can lead to headaches, fatigue, tiredness and lack of focus. People often use a high dose of caffeine to combat tiredness, not knowing that it could worsen the symptoms in the long run. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it flushes out bodily fluids at a faster rate, dehydrating you even further. Supplementing your coffee with a tall glass of H2O can greatly improve your overall well-being throughout the day. Anemia If you’re constantly feeling exhausted, it could be because you are anemic. What is anemia, exactly? Anemia is when there is a “shortage of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to body tissues and cleanse them of carbon dioxide.” Anemic people feel fatigue as one of the symptoms and often experience headaches and weakness as well. How is anemia acquired? A poor diet is usually the case, especially when lacking the mineral iron. Incorporating more red meats and dark greens into your diet can help boost your iron levels, as can iron supplements. Diabetes Another underlying cause of always feeling tired could be diabetes. Fatigue caused by diabetes can become debilitating. How can diabet Continue reading >>
Regaining Your Energy With Type 2 Diabetes: Tips To Prevent Fatigue
No, it's not your imagination: Taking care of yourself when you have type 2 diabetes can be exhausting. Diabetes-related fatigue is common, and you may be feeling it from a variety of sources — your type 2 diabetes symptoms themselves, exhaustion from the responsibilities of managing diabetes daily, ineffective diabetes management, or even from other underlying conditions. Understanding Diabetes-Related Fatigue There are strong associations between diabetes and testosterone levels, kidney disease, and other health complications, all of which can cause you to become very tired, says Ronald Tamler, MD, medical director of the Mount Sinai Clinical Diabetes Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. There’s also a link between diabetes and depression, he adds, and depression is a common cause of extreme fatigue. According to a study published in June 2014 in the journal Current Diabetes Report, depressive symptoms affect up to one-third of people with diabetes. The research also found that depression not only impairs quality of life but also adds to the difficulties experienced in diabetes self-management. "The research highlights a wide range of potential explanations for the association between diabetes and depression, which include having a sedentary lifestyle, eating a diet high in refined sugars, sleeping poorly, and experiencing brain dysfunction due to low and high blood sugars, as well as chronic inflammation that is associated with diabetes," says David Lam, MD, associate director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Other causes of fatigue from diabetes include cells being deprived of sugar, high blood sugar, dehydration from increased urination, loss of calories, and sleep apnea. Graham McMahon, bachelor of med Continue reading >>
Muscle Weakness
This leaflet looks at types of muscle weakness and discusses the wide range of problems which may cause them. These range from the very common to the very rare. Some are mild and reversible; others are not. However, most can be improved by exercise and physiotherapy. Muscle weakness is a common complaint but the word weakness has a wide range of meanings, including tiredness, reduced power and failure to work at all. There is an even wider range of possible causes. What is muscle weakness? The term muscle weakness can be used to describe several different things. Primary or true muscle weakness This shows itself as an inability to perform what you want to do with a muscle, even the first time you try. There is a reduction in the force which the muscle can exert, however hard you try. The muscle is not working properly - it has become abnormal. When this kind of weakness occurs the muscles are often floppier than usual and reduced in bulkiness. It can happen, for example, following stroke. It is also seen in a condition called muscular dystrophy (discussed further below). Both of these conditions result in weakened muscles which cannot move the usual load. It's a real change in muscle power. Muscle tiredness This is sometimes called asthenia. It is a sense of weariness or exhaustion that you feel when using the muscle. The muscle isn't genuinely weaker, it can still do its job but it takes you more effort to manage it. This type of weakness is often seen in people who have chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorders, depression, and chronic heart, lung, and kidney disease. It may be due to a reduction in the speed with which the muscle can get its energy supply. Muscle 'fatigability' Some muscle tiredness is mainly muscle 'fatigability' - the muscle starts off normally but Continue reading >>
Fatigue In Patients With Diabetes: A Review
Go to: Abstract Objective Fatigue is a common and distressing complaint among people with diabetes, and likely to hinder the ability to perform daily diabetes self-management tasks. A review of the literature about diabetes-related fatigue was conducted with an eye toward creating a framework for beginning to conduct more focused studies on this subject. A literature search containing the terms diabetes, fatigue, tiredness, and symptoms was conducted to search for literature that addressed diabetes-related fatigue. Diabetes presents many potential pathways for fatigue, but focused studies on this symptom are rare. Furthermore, research on diabetes-related fatigue is limited by fatigue's non-specific symptoms and because fatigue researchers have yet to agree on standardized definition, measurement or diagnostic criteria. Additionally, few diabetes randomized clinical trials included measurement of patient-reported outcomes, such as symptoms or health-related quality of life in their study designs, though one that did provided some the meaningful finding that symptom-focused education improved self-management practices, HbA1c levels, quality of life and symptom distress. Conclusion There is a need to standardized definition, measurement and diagnostic criteria of fatigue in diabetes. We present a model that can guide focused studies on fatigue in diabetes. The model capitalizes on the multidimensional phenomena (physiological, psychological, and lifestyle) associated with fatigue in diabetes. Go to: Introduction Diabetes mellitus, a major public health problem, affects approximately 6% of the world's adult population, and is increasing in epidemic proportions.1, 2 Among people with diabetes, fatigue is a pervasive and distressing complaint. Although fatigue also occurs in Continue reading >>
Fatigue (tiredness) In Elderly: Causes And How To Treat It
Fatigue is a common symptom of aging that is often ignored or attributed to another condition, but when left untreated, fatigue in the elderly can lead to a decline in normal functioning. While there is no one succinct definition of fatigue, it may be generally characterized by feelings of weariness, tiredness, a persistent lack of energy, and weakness. To find out how fatigue affects the elderly and how it can be treated, continue reading below. Fatigue in the elderly Fatigue is often considered to be a symptom rather than a condition and is different from general drowsiness, confusion, and excessive sleepiness. Many elderly patients use these symptoms interchangeably, making it difficult for their physicians to discern whether what they are experiencing is truly fatigue and if intervention is needed. Older adults are more likely to experience a reduction in certain hormone levels as well as suffer from chronic diseases, which increases the likelihood that they will experience fatigue. Fatigue (lack of energy) linked to health problems A 2008 study conducted by Columbia University found that adults aged 65 and older who suffered from fatigue were also more likely to suffer from joint problems, urinary incontinence, hearing problems, depression, and social isolation. While common, the researchers asserted that lack of energy and persistent fatigue should not be viewed as normal and can also be associated with heart disease, kidney problems, pulmonary issues, as well as arthritis and anemia. Symptoms of fatigue in elderly Fatigue may affect the elderly on a number of levels. Physically, they may have issues completing normal activities, need extended periods of rest, have an increased risk of falling, and have difficulty coordinating their movements. Mentally, symptoms m Continue reading >>
Tired Of Your Diabetes? Here’s How To Keep Going
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: 1. Know that no one is perfect. There are no vacations from diabetes. Even the most diligent people can’t keep their blood sugar or diet or physical activity on target all the time. “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. This can be stressful, says David Nathan, MD, director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. “If people are always stressed out about diabetes, they’re miserable,” Nathan says. He says people need to forgive themselves if they miss their goals for a day, a week, or even more. “Chill a little bit,” Nathan says. “We’re going to do the best we can. We need to recognize no one is perfect.” 2. Pay attention to what stresses you out. Living with diabetes can cause fear, anger, worry, and sadness. Lawrence Fisher, PhD, director of the Behavioral Diabetes Research Group at UCSF School of Medicine, has studied what doctors call “diabetes distress” in people with type 1 and those with type 2diabetes. He learned that during any 18-month period, from a third to a half of people with diabetes will feel a good bit of it. He cites seven common sources of diabetes distress among people with type 1 diabetes. The most common is a feeling of helplessness. *CGM-based treatment requires fingersticks for calibration, if patient is taking acetaminophen, or if symptoms/expectations do not match CGM readings, and if not performed, may result in hypoglycemia. Please see important risk and safety i Continue reading >>
Tiredness And Diabetes
Tweet 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. 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 What causes people with diabetes to be tired? Two common reasons for tiredness or lethargy are having too high or too low blood sugar levels. In both cases, the tiredness is the result of having an imbalance between one’s level of blood glucose and the amount or effectiveness of circulating insulin. If you feel tired during the day, despite having slept well, it could be a result of either high or low sugar levels. It is best to test your blood glucose levels to see whether the tiredness is indeed a result of having high or low sugar levels. This is particularly important for people on insulin. Read about the recommended blood glucose levels ranges Tiredness and high blood sugar levels Blood glucose levels go high when there is either insufficient insulin (typically in the case of type 1 diabetes) or the insulin is not working effectively enough (typically in type 2 diabetes). To provide us with energy, insulin is needed to transport glucose from blood into our cells to be used for energy. 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. Managing tiredness and high blood sugar after meals If tiredness is accompanied by high blood glucose levels after meals, it can indica Continue reading >>
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How Can Diabetes Type 1 Cause Weakness?
If you frequently feel weak, like you just don’t have the energy to get through the day, it’s likely due to a mix of factors. Many people feel like they’re dragging through the day, without enough energy to get things done – or they simply don’t feel well. For others, there is sleepiness mid-afternoon, or when driving. Others simply sleep too much. You might call this “weakness,” “lack of energy” or “fatigue.” Either way, it’s possibly due to your diabetes. There are likely other factors at work, too. Let’s look at how diabetes affects your sense of weakness and fatigue. High blood sugar makes some people feel sluggish because it slows circulation in your body. High blood sugar causes inflammation in the body, which affects the brain – causing feelings of fatigue. Low blood sugar causes fatigue because your body doesn’t have enough energy. Your cells (and body) can’t work without the right fuel. Maybe you have bad habits like sitting for long periods of time, or eating too much junk food and not getting any exercise. Your lifestyle definitely affects how weak or strong you feel. If you’re out of shape, and muscles aren’t very strong, you will feel weak after doing chores or any kind of exercise. You can turn that around easily with a little more regular exercise. If you’re not “eating right,” your body isn’t getting the nutrition to generate energy. Are you eating chips, French fries, cookies, donuts and other junk food? Switch to lean protein, vegetables and fruits, and you’ll feel a lot stronger. You may have another medical problem causing your weakness or fatigue. Your primary care doctor can determine the root cause of your problem: Anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells) causes weakness and fatigue. Your body isn’t Continue reading >>
Fatigue (medical)
This article is about the medical term. For other uses, see Fatigue (disambiguation). "Lassitude" redirects here. For the song by Sigma and DJ Fresh, see Lassitude (song). Not to be confused with Muscle weakness. Fatigue is a subjective feeling of tiredness which is distinct from weakness, and has a gradual onset. Unlike weakness, fatigue can be alleviated by periods of rest. Fatigue can have physical or mental causes. Physical fatigue is the transient inability of a muscle to maintain optimal physical performance, and is made more severe by intense physical exercise.[1][2][3] Mental fatigue is a transient decrease in maximal cognitive performance resulting from prolonged periods of cognitive activity. It can manifest as somnolence, lethargy, or directed attention fatigue.[4] Medically, fatigue is a non-specific symptom, which means that it has many possible causes and accompanies many different conditions. Fatigue is considered a symptom, rather than a sign because it is a subjective feeling reported by the patient, rather than an objective one that can be observed by others. Fatigue and 'feelings of fatigue' are often confused.[5] Classification[edit] See also: Central nervous system fatigue Physical fatigue[edit] Main article: Muscle fatigue Physical fatigue, or muscle fatigue, is the temporary physical inability of a muscle to perform optimally. The onset of muscle fatigue during physical activity is gradual, and depends upon an individual's level of physical fitness, and also upon other factors, such as sleep deprivation and overall health. It can be reversed by rest.[6] Physical fatigue can be caused by a lack of energy in the muscle, by a decrease of the efficiency of the neuromuscular junction or by a reduction of the drive originating from the central nervous s Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Fatigue: Everything You Need To Know
What exactly is fatigue? Is it just being tired after working a long week or not getting enough sleep? The answer is no. Fatigue is excessive tiredness that makes carrying out simple tasks difficult and interferes with one or more life functions. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Well imagine having a chronic illness along with the fatigue. Diabetes and fatigue have a strong relationship, and it can make a person’s life very difficult. The following article will discuss the relationship, along with ways to beat and reduce the risk of living with diabetes and fatigue. What is diabetes fatigue? 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. Some signs of fatigue include: Dizziness Irritability Headache Inability to concentrate Problems remembering things Blurry vision Slowed reflexes and muscle weakness Is feeling fatigue a sign/symptom of diabetes? Feeling fatigued is definitely a symptom of diabetes. However, fatigue can also be a sign or symptom of many other diseases, so it is important that you talk to your doctor about any problems that you are having. I advise reading the following: Reactive hypoglycemia, a term used to define the crash that a person gets after eating a lot of sugar and carbs, can be an early sign of diabetes. In order for the body to use the sugars and carbs that are consumed for fuel, each molecule must be paired with insulin to get into the cell. If there isn’t enough insulin available, then the sugar molecules stay in the bloodstream and cause high blood sugar. What happens is that over time, eating Continue reading >>
