AskNadia: Diabetes Fatigue Prevents Weight Loss
Dear Nadia,
In the last three weeks, my blood sugars have risen to over 200. I take Metformin twice daily and watch my food intake, I have been a type 2 for 15 years, I don’t seem to be able to lose weight, and I am tired most of the time, what can I do.I am also 75 years old.
Audrey D
Dear Audrey:
If you have been on Metformin for 15 years and just started experiencing high blood sugars, you obviously have been doing a great job. Hyperglycemia in the last three weeks does not mean your health goals are diminishing. Some medications lose their efficacy after a period. If metformin is less effective in managing your type 2 diabetes, it does not reflect your inability to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Check in with your Physician. Your next A1C will help determine what the next course of therapy should be.
Other Possible Reasons for High Blood Sugars
~ It could be that you are getting sick and your blood sugar readings are pre-paving the symptoms. High blood sugars are common when you are under the weather. Personally, I always feel lethargic before I get cold or flu symptoms. Over the years, I have learned to notice how I feel before getting sick.
~ Stress can also shoot up your blood sugars. Are there any people or new circumstances in your life that are challenging for you?
~ Are you frustrated with your blood sugars readings every day? Feeling defeated or burned out because nothing is working can add to hyperglycemia.
I remember speaking to a healthcare professional who told me how one of his model patients started experience 400 blood sugar levels for one month. When the healthcare provider asked his patient “what is going on in his personal life?” The patient answered, “I am in a custody battle for my grandchild.”
~ Do you have other health conditions?
~ Did you start taking a new medication?
High blood sugar can be a side effect of new medications you are on. Ask your pharmacist if any of the medication you are taking can give you hyperglycemia.
Diabetes Fatigue
~ If you are restless through the night, lack of sleep can make you tired.
~ Dehydration, not drinking enough liquids, can deplete your energy.
~ Anemia and a hyperthyroid are two medical conditions that can also make you weary.
Weight Loss
Losing weight is a challenge for most people. As we age, it becomes harder to shed extra pounds. Keep a log of what you eat for a few weeks and ask your healthcare professional team for their dietary advice. Explore a different diet by asking your Dietician, if you should consider a low glycemic diet.
Exercise improves weight loss and weight maintenance. Ask your healthcare team what type of exercise is suitable for you, how long you should exert yourself and how frequently you should work out.
The right medication combination, diet, and exercise can get you back to where you want to be. Most importantly- don’t do it alone. Get the advice you need to get you back on track.
Sue Thom’s tips on How to Lower Your Blood Sugar When it is Over 200 is a timeless article.
Disclaimer:
Nadia’s feedback on your question is in no way intended to initiate or replace your healthcare professional’s therapy or advice. Please check in with your medical team to discuss your diabetes management concerns.
AskNadia and receive her unique perspective on your question.
About Nadia:
Nadia is a diabetes advocate that was not only born into a family with diabetes but also married into one. Propelled at a young age into “caretaker mode,” and with her knowledge of the scarcity of resources, support, and understanding for people with diabetes, co-founded Diabetes Interview, now Diabetes Health magazine.
Nadia has received 19 nominations for her work as a diabetes advocate.
She is featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Her publications, medical supply business, and website have been cited, recognized and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, Ann Landers advice column, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, Entrepreneur magazine, Houston News, Phili.com, Brand Week, Drug Topics, and many other media outlets.