Simply managing diabetes on a daily basis can zap your energy from time to time. What Are the Symptoms of Uncontrolled Diabetes? 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. It's also important to remember that most people require less sleep as they get older. If your sugars are under control, but you still lack energy, consider being tested for: Sleep apnea, which causes exhaustion and is very common in diabetes. doi:10.2337/dc14-S081. Both types of sleep apnea prevent a person from getting the kind of deep, restful sleep needed to wake up feeling refreshed. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Check if it's hypersomnia Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) is different from feeling tired all the time. Causes. In both cases, it can happen if you dont eat enough food and your blood glucose drops. As it was mentioned above, diabetes fatigue is an extreme tiredness that individuals with diabetes can experience. A team of . When discussing symptoms with your doctor, state the outcome as well, says Fritschi: Because I'm tired, I'm not able to do x, y and z. High blood sugar can mean having that feeling all the time. (Remember, even fast-acting insulin stays in your body for about 4 hours, which means insulin you took at 9 p.m. can easily cause a low blood sugar at 1 a.m.). Helpful Answer ( 0) H Hadnuff Dec 2016 After having a stroke you are very tired at first. And stress can have a drastic effect on your blood sugar -- both immediately and in, Your blood pressure is one of the most important markers of health -- especially as a person with any type of diabetes. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This can lead to overeating and weight gain. In particular, the ADA urges people living with diabetes to in Related article: How to comfortably sleep with an insulin pump? My husband sleeps a lot too. The prevalence was slightly larger in adults who had type 2 diabetes, at 42 percent. But the American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that exercise can help regulate blood glucose even if you already have diabetes. So that combination is having a detrimental effect to his overall health and well-being. Researchers from the University of Illinois College of Nursing measured the blood sugar levels of 83 diabetic women over the age of 40, and also asked them general questions about their health. When your body has extra glucose, it draws water from your tissues. And getting a good nights rest can help in blood glucose management as well as overall health. And Other Dos and Donts. High blood sugar can cause a person with diabetes to sleep all day; it might mean he is close to a coma if its high. Anemia is not caused by diabetes, but it frequently occurs in people with diabetes and is a common cause of fatigue. She is the author of several diabetes books: Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes, Dealing with Diabetes Burnout, Emotional Eating with Diabetes, When I Go Low. Chronic fatigue in type 1 diabetes: Highly prevalent but not explained by hyperglycemia or glucose variability. Subjective sleep impairment in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES The Netherlands. There are a variety of ways diabetes can impact the quality of your sleep, and its actually very important that you dont just endure it and accept too little sleep as part of your life because that can wreak havoc on your diabetes, too. The ADA recommends a minimum of 2.5 hours of exercise per week without taking more than 2 days off in a row. Reduce your alcohol intake, if you drink. There are no vacations from diabetes. Heres how to make sure your fatigue is being addressed: Be specific. The mental stress of coping with diabetes can wear out your mind and spirit. AgingCare.com connects families who are caring for aging parents, spouses, or other elderly loved ones with the information and support they need to make informed caregiving decisions. When this happens, the body begins to break down fat as fuel, causing the build-up of damaging acids known as ketones. (2015). Most adults need between 6 and 8 hours of sleep a day, but this can vary quite a lot from person to person. This is usually performed by the person with diabetes, or a caregiver if the person is a child or otherwise needs assistance. Testing your blood sugar yourself on an at-home meter is fairly. Graves' disease. High blood sugar makes blood sticky, so it cant get through the capillaries as easily to bring oxygen to cells. Diabetes and fatigue have a strong relationship, and it can make a persons life very difficult. diabetic husband sleeps all the time Signs Of Low Blood Sugar, Normal Blood Sugar Levels For Adults good bedtime blood sugar Signs Of Low Blood Sugar. I guess this for my Mom and her caregivers, this is the middle of the road, awake and confussed or sleep and somewhat at rest. how are you sleeping? As people with diabetes, were often warned about the effects diabetes could potentially have on our eyes, fingers, and toes, but what about our hair?, Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. Moving the legs or walking typically relieves the discomfort but the sensations often recur once the movement stops.. I don't know about what the stroke might cause, but how is his blood sugar? Caffeine may wind you up if consumed too close to bedtime. Diabetes is unique because [youre] actually making medical decisions, day-to-day, minute-to-minute, says Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD, a clinical health psychologist. This means that your body cant use the insulin correctly. OSA is defined by long pauses in breathing while you sleep. Blood glucose fluctuation is often thought of as the first cause of fatigue in diabetes. Here are some possibilities. If youre there: 1. Do blood sugar levels make a person with diabetes tired? hypothyroidism . A low blood sugar can easily wake you up in the middle of the night. Abnormalities in these organs can also cause fatigue, he says. Oral Pressure Therapy (OPT): Similar to a CPAP device but without the mask, this treatment is a mouthpiece that delivers air to help keep your throat properly open while you sleep. People who are tired will eat more because they want to get energy from somewhere, she says. You may also benefit from group or one-on-one counseling with a therapist. Some work has shown that sleep can impact glucose regulation. Continue reading >>, If you have type 2 diabetes and youre feeling tired, youre not alone. There are many possible causes, including everything from diabetes-related complications to underlying conditions. I cant even keep a job. As insulin starts to drop, the corresponding rise in blood glucose can manifest in hyperglycemic food cravings. You can talk with your doctor about possibly switching medications to see whether your sleep improves. Sexual issues are common for people with type 2 diabetes. About 2.5 million people in the United States have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Blood glucose testing can help to determine whether high or low sugar levels may be the cause of fatigue. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common among people with diabetes. There are numerous studies connecting diabetes and fatigue. The link between hyperglycemia and hyperphagia is a direct one, and insulin is the trigger. Dopamine is needed to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity and movement. If youre taking a non-insulin medication that lowers blood sugar levels (like Metformin or Victoza), you likely need a lower dose if youre experiencing regular low blood sugars. What Are Normal Non-Fasting Glucose Levels? How Are Sleep Problems Treated in Type 2 Diabetes? Diabetes and fatigue are often discussed together. Physical activity/exercise for diabetes: A position statement of the American Diabetes Association. If you have type 1, your pancreas doesnt produce insulin, so you must take it on a daily basis. the best ways to treat low blood sugars as quickly as possible without over-eating. Fatigue and related factors in people with type 2 diabetes. Tells You Everything You Need to Know About The Basics of Diabetes. Also referred to as diabetic neuropathy or PN, it develops when severe nerve damage has occurred within your hands, fingers, toes, legs, feet, and/or arms. (2013). Are There Other Links Between Sleep and Type 2 Diabetes? The researchers found no relationship between the womens fatigue level and their blood sugar control. Everything takes more energy to do than it used to. Balancing school, work, physical activity, and your family may cause you to go to bed later than you'd like. How can I beat/reduce fatigue with diabetes and regain my energy? Ginger is the Associated Director of Communications at T1Dexchange.org. Trying to understand Husband sleeping all the time Hi I am new here. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. to help you keep a better eye on your overnight blood sugar trends, and to simply keep you safer while you sleep. Diabetes and fatigue With diabetes, fatigue is caused by a number of factors, including: High blood sugar levels, either from a lack of the insulin horomone or from insulin resistance, can affect the bodys ability to get glucose from the blood into cells to meet our energy needs People on stronger diabetes medication such as insulin, may also experience fatigue as a symptom of low blood glucose levels. The authors also noted that the fatigue is often so severe that it impacts everyday tasks as well as quality of life. If you wake up tired, ask your doctor for a sleep test. Dad with dementia diagnosed with diabetes and treatment issues. Continue reading >>, Whenever diabetes patients enter Lynn Maaroufs office with out-of-control blood sugar levels, she immediately asks them how they are sleeping at night. 2014;37(Supplement 1):S81-S90. Management of hyperglycemic crises: diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state. Hi! One was that those women who were persistently short-sleepers - that is, less than 6 hours a night of sleep - had an increased risk for diabetes, says researcher Susan Redline, MD. But 2 minutes later it will happen again. (2015). It appears that other factors such as being overweight, getting little physical activity, and having higher levels of distress could be causing their fatigue, Fritschi says. It may seem like no big deal just a little snoring, right? If you wake up in the middle of the night feeling desperately thirsty and just generally uncomfortable, make sure to check your blood sugar. Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP): This device covers your nostrils with a disposable adhesive value that opens and ensures your airway stays open. It can also come from kidney disease. Underlying conditions and diabetes-related complications are additional factors that can contribute to tiredness. But Dr. Zonszein notes that high blood glucose isnt the only cause. Any advice? He has been on metformin, januvea, and simvastatin. The answer is no. Dad has uncontrolled diabetes and neuropathy in his feet. In one 2012 study, researchers examined the associations between sleep disturbance and diabetes. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours, and are often most severe at night when a person is resting, such as sitting or lying in bed, explains the National Institute of Health. One such study looked at the results of a survey on sleep quality. The symptoms of low blood sugar, such as shakiness, dizziness, and sweating, can affect your slee This can make you feel dehydrated, prompting you to get up for regular glasses of water. Some studies have found obstructive sleep apnea in as many as 30% of adults with Type 1 diabetes. When she is sleeping I can still see some agitation but at least she's not trying to get up and walk then fall and repeat. 2014;53(16):1791-1795. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1646. "People have always assumed blood sugar is the cause of fatigue," says lead study author Cynthia Fritschi, RN, PhD. And the more you weigh, the worse you sleep. Aylaz R, et al. . The periods of stopped breathing are called apneas, which are caused by an obstruction of the upper airway. Talk with your doctor about ways you can manage both diabetes and fatigue. So you are probably getting up and going to bathroom all night long -- and not sleeping well. Diabetes and sleep problems often go hand in hand. 35 Comments 6 Reasons Caregivers Need More Sleep Finding time to sleep is one of the hardest things for a caregiver to do, but these six reasons demonstrate why caregiver respite should be a priority in any elder care plan. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.12.011, Nigro N, Grossmann M, Chiang C, Inder WJ. According to the journal Current Diabetes Reports, people with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression.