This article will explore what fatigue looks like and why it might happen in a person with diabetes.
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue is more than sleepiness, an occasional lack of energy, or an uncontrollable need to sleep. When you have fatigue, it may appear as an overwhelming lack of physical and emotional energy or motivation. This lack of energy can often affect your ability to carry out daily tasks.
Common symptoms of fatigue include:
TirednessWeaknessLack of energyExhaustionLack of motivationDifficulty concentrating
For some people, fatigue can also cause headaches, mood changes, or even slowed mental or physical responses. There are many causes of fatigue, including medical issues, lifestyle changes, and stress.
Medical Issues
Some medical issues that can lead to problems with fatigue include:
Metabolic conditions or diseases Chronic fatigue syndrome Infections Heart problems Mental disorders Vitamin or nutrient deficiencies Certain medications
Lifestyle Causes
Aside from medical conditions, many factors in your daily life can cause or contribute to fatigue. These include:
Lack of sleepPoor dietDrugs or alcoholLack of exercise
Stress and Other Conditions
Fatigue can be a symptom of anxiety and depression or other mental health conditions. It can also be a result of stress, which can impact the body in countless ways. Common stressors include:
Workplace problemsChanges in personal relationshipsMental health conditionsFinancial strainHousing problems
Is Fatigue a Symptom of Diabetes?
Several conditions, including diabetes, can cause fatigue. Fatigue is one of the more common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes—even if you’ve achieved control of your blood glucose level.
Several factors are thought to contribute to fatigue when you have diabetes. Chemical and energy changes in the body triggered by diabetes can alter the balance of electrolytes like calcium and potassium. Both of these chemicals are crucial to your body’s normal function and help drive the production of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)—the body’s primary energy source in every living cell. When ATP is in short supply, some researchers suggest that fatigue may occur as a result.
Other contributors to fatigue in people with diabetes have more to do with lifestyle than physical factors. Managing diabetes—in terms of lifestyle and mental and emotional health—can take a significant toll. Living with diabetes can increase stress and fatigue and requires many diet and lifestyle changes that can be difficult to cope with.
Treatments and Management of Fatigue
There are a few things you can do to combat diabetes-related fatigue. The first is to take care of your overall health and control your blood sugar levels. This can include:
Watching your dietTaking medications to control your blood sugarRegularly seeing your healthcare providerLimiting stressStaying fit and activeGetting enough sleepAsking for help when you need it
Additional behavioral therapies that can help combat fatigue include:
Diabetes education and counselingSleep hygieneWeight managementWorking on coping skillsEstablishing a support system
If fatigue persists, talk to your healthcare provider about medications that may offer some relief. Prescription medications to treat stress or depression have been effective for some people with diabetes-related fatigue.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
It’s always a good idea to have regular follow-up care with your healthcare provider to discuss ongoing treatment and prevent complications. In some cases, fatigue may result from a more severe diabetes complication, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a serious complication that can lead to excessively high blood sugar.
If you enter a state of DKA, sugar cannot enter your cells and provide energy, so your liver starts to break down stored fat to use for energy. This process releases a chemical called ketones into your body, and too much of this chemical, released too quickly, can cause symptoms such as:
Increased thirst and urinationDry mouthFruity-smelling breathFast, deep breathingSevere fatigueNausea and vomitingStomach painMuscle achesHeadaches
DKA can occur if you have diabetes and you’ve been sick or have missed doses of your diabetes medications; it may require hospitalization. Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice changes in your overall condition or if you see high blood glucose readings at home.
If you have diabetes and become dizzy, light-headed, confused, or lose consciousness, you should seek immediate medical treatment.
Summary
Fatigue is a common symptom of diabetes, but it can also occur with many other medical conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider if your fatigue affects your daily activities or appears alongside a diagnosed medical condition.
A Word From Verywell
Living with chronic diseases, like diabetes, can be challenging and exhausting. Poor blood sugar control and other diabetes complications can also increase your fatigue. If you have diabetes and have trouble carrying out daily tasks due to fatigue, speak to your healthcare provider about treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes that can help.
