3. Watch Your Blood Sugar
Your blood sugar level may be low for several reasons. Ask yourself the following questions if your blood sugar is low:
- Have you skipped meals or had no carbohydrates at your last meal?
- Do you normally have a snack, which you skipped today?
- Has your medication recently been changed?
- Did you take your medication as it was prescribed?
- Have you been exercising more than usual?
- Have you been consuming alcohol?
All of these factors affect blood sugar levels.
4. Evaluate Your Activity Level
Your activity level may also be making you feel tired. Too much and not enough exercise can both result in fatigue.
Are You Sitting Too Much?
Studies have revealed that too much sitting increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, elevated levels of triglycerides, and increased cholesterol levels. It may also make you feel tired, particularly if you work at a computer screen, are doing tasks you find boring, or doing work that requires a high level of concentration.
One study discovered that inflammation increases during prolonged sitting. This was particularly noticeable among women. The researchers found that the risk factors occurred even if participants exercised regularly yet spent most of the day sitting. They recommended moving around throughout the day as a means to improve wellness.
In addition to reducing the risks of illness, intermittent moving around may boost your energy levels. So get up, take short walks, stretch, look out the window, or even fidget in your chair. You may find that these simple techniques refresh you. Experts now recommend a minimum 150 minutes of exercise each week to maintain health.
Or Burning up Too Much Energy?
Before beginning an exercise program, check with your endocrinologist if you have type 1 diabetes, poorly controlled blood glucose levels, or have other health issues. You may need to increase your carbohydrate intake if you engage in exercise. Find out what your health care practitioner recommends.
If you are exercising vigorously and experiencing low blood sugar symptoms such as fatigue or lightheadedness, you need to consume a carbohydrate before or while you are exercising.
Generally speaking, you do not need additional carbohydrates if you are engaging in light exercise, such as walking, gardening or shopping for one half hour or less. If you are planning to engage in vigorous exercise for up to 30 minutes, have two portions of fruit prior to exercising.
For strenuous exercise, such as running, which lasts between 45 minutes to 60/75 minutes, have a balanced snack, such as a sandwich made with two ounces of meat, one cup of milk, and a piece of fruit prior to exercising. When you are done exercising vigorously, have 6 oz. of orange juice.
Be aware that you may or may not experience fatigue and other signs of low blood sugar during or immediately after exercising. If you are insulin dependent, or taking medications to lower your blood sugar, hypoglycemia may occur several hours after you stop exercising.
Conclusion
As someone who has diabetes; low blood sugar and other health aspects related to your diagnosis may cause tiredness. Conditions that cause fatigue may be entirely unrelated to diabetes as well. Determine the cause of your tiredness and then you will be able to implement a plan to restore your feelings of energy once again.
