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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I manage fatigue with 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.
  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 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

  • 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 

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