Can High Blood Sugar Levels Cause Fatigue?
Many people suffer from type 1 and type 2 diabetes and are well aware of the symptoms of
high blood sugar. However, for people with a recent diagnosis of diabetes, or those with
pre-diabetic or normal blood sugar levels, these symptoms might not be very apparent. At
times, it can prove difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of diabetes and other health
conditions as the symptoms can be non specific.
Fatigue is one of the nonspecific symptoms of increased blood sugar. Many people suffering
from diabetes often experience fatigue, but it can also be caused by other health conditions. As
a Los Angeles pharmacy, we share the details of the connection between high blood sugar
levels and fatigue for your understanding.
High Blood Sugar And Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms of increased blood sugar levels is fatigue. In those
suffering from diabetes, it is called diabetes fatigue. People suffering from high blood sugar
levels feel tired all the time. Fatigue can also occur in people with pre-diabetic or normal blood
sugar levels. They experience fatigue when there is a sudden increase in their blood sugar
levels.
When your body experiences a spike in sugar levels, it tries to produce more insulin to balance
the sugar levels. If levels of insulin aren’t enough, or if your body isn’t responding to the insulin
hormone, your body will start to pull from the fat present in your body to obtain the energy
that is needed. When fat is used to obtain energy, energy is used from splitting adenosine
triphosphate (ATP). ATP expels one of its phosphates and turns to ADP or adenosine
diphosphate, thereby releasing energy. If there aren’t enough energy sources to pull from, the
ATP molecule will not be able to obtain the phosphate that it gave away, resulting in fatigue.
When To See A Doctor
It is vital to manage diabetes fatigue for those people suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
If your experience fatigue for more than two weeks, you need to see a practitioner who is
specialized in diabetes management. The healthcare provider may suggest prescription
medications to control the levels of sugar in your blood if the levels are too high. For those
people who are already suffering from the condition, regular doctor visits to monitor blood
sugar levels are necessary. The doctor will be able to help address diabetic fatigue via
encouraging lifestyle changes like regular exercise, healthy diet, better sleep hygiene, etc.