If your body is sensitive to sugar, you may experience fatigue due to the fact that it reacts by producing low amounts of beta-endorphins and serotonin. Low levels of these chemicals lead to an experience of fatigue and lethargy.
Fatigue and Low Energy
Sugar is easily absorbed and digested, so if you're feeling fatigued, it could be due to the amount of sugar you're getting in your diet.
These include regular exercise, nutrition, and weight management. All these can help boost energy while also controlling your blood sugar.
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.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur when too many sugars are consumed. It's made worse if there's inefficient or insufficient insulin to transport sugars to the cells for energy. Sugars are the cells' main source of energy, which explains why inefficient or insufficient insulin may leave you feeling tired.
You may be too exhausted even to manage your daily affairs. In most cases, there's a reason for the fatigue. It might be allergic rhinitis, anemia, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease (COPD), a bacterial or viral infection, or some other health condition.
If you are struggling to get up in the morning; feeling a total lack of energy or 'fogginess' or not able to perform the tasks you normally do as simply too exhausted it may be that you actually are suffering from fatigue... and it could be a side effect of your diabetes.
Fatigue/Tiredness
Blood sugar levels are always high when you have type 2 diabetes, but the sugar has a difficult time entering the cells. This causes the cells to work with less efficiency because they do not have the proper amount of energy. Because of this, a person with type 2 diabetes may feel tired all the time.
Sugar may also reduce your energy levels, leading to fatigue and reduced alertness during the day, and eating sugar may even be a factor in depression, according to a 2019 review. Cutting added sugar from your diet may help protect against chronic disease development and boost your overall health.
Added sugar is already a dietary no-no. But that's especially true for people with CFS. “It's natural to want sugary foods when you are tired and looking for a pick-me-up,” says Thayer. “Sugar gives you a spike in energy when you consume it, but then you crash afterwards.”
Focusing on a healthy diet and giving up sugar entirely can go a long way towards increasing your energy levels, improving your memory and allowing you to concentrate more clearly.
Below 5.7% is normal. Between 5.7% and 6.4% is diagnosed as prediabetes. 6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.
What Is Prediabetes? Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don't know they have it.
Undiagnosed pre-diabetes is one of the most common causes of persistent feelings of mental and physical fatigue. It's estimated that 100 million Americans have some form of pre-diabetes.
Another common symptom of undiagnosed diabetes is severe fatigue. You may find yourself always tired, no matter how many restful hours of sleep you get. Diabetics often feel sluggish and exhausted. Insulin deficiency can cause these symptoms.
Common symptoms of diabetes: Urinating often. Feeling very thirsty. Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating.
Fatigue—a lack of physical or mental energy—can be caused by lifestyle factors, medical conditions, sleep disorders, or mental health conditions. Chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, depression, and sleep apnea are just a few potential reasons why you feel tired and burned out.
The two most likely reasons you're always so tired no matter how much sleep you get are you've got high sleep debt or you're not living in sync with your circadian rhythm. You may also feel sleepy if you're ill, pregnant, or you've got a medical condition like anemia or diabetes.
Some conditions that cause fatigue include thyroid disorders, iron deficiency anemia, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and COVID-19. Some other causes of fatigue may involve your diet, sleep, and levels of stress. Lifestyle changes can often improve feelings of fatigue in these situations.