Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesMedicationsMonitoringPreventionWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Medications
Monitoring
Prevention
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Those living withtype 1ortype 2 diabetesare generally aware of the symptoms that go along with high blood sugar. One nonspecific symptom of high blood sugar that people with diabetes often experience isfatigue.
For people with a recent diagnosis of the condition or those with normal orprediabeticlevels, however, symptoms of high blood sugar may not be as apparent. It can be difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of high blood sugar and other ailments because some can be nonspecific.
This article discusses how high blood sugar causes fatigue, ways to recognize high blood sugar, and how to prevent it.
Milko / Getty Images
Why Does High Blood Sugar Cause Fatigue?
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of high blood sugar. In people with diabetes, it is referred to as diabetes fatigue. Many people with the condition feel tired all the time regardless of how well they sleep or eat and whether they exercise regularly.
Research has shown that up to 68% of people with diabetes experience fatigue.However, fatigue doesn’t just occur in those with diabetes. It can also happen in people with normal or prediabetic blood sugar levels if they experience a sudden spike in their blood sugar.
Certain conditions can also cause fatigue, such as:
When the body experiences a spike in blood sugar levels, it goes into overdrive trying to make enoughinsulinto balance the blood sugar. If there isn’t enough insulin or the body isn’t responding to the insulin as it should, your body will start to pull from fat to create the energy it needs.
When this happens, energy is used from the splitting of a molecule known asadenosine triphosphate,or ATP. When ATP expels one of its three phosphates for energy, it turns into another molecule known as adenosine diphosphate, or ADP. If there are no energy sources to pull from, the ATP cannot regain the phosphate it gave away, leading to fatigue.
Symptoms of High Blood Sugar in People Without Diabetes
Does Diabetes Medication Cause Fatigue?
Certain diabetes drugs as well as numerous other medications that people with diabetes often take can cause fatigue as a side effect.
Corticosteroids, statins,diuretics, andbeta-blockersused to treat diabetes complications are known to cause fatigue.Diabetes medications that may cause fatigue includebiguanides(such as metformin) and insulin.
Long-term use of metformin can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to severe tiredness.Insulin can cause fatigue if the dose is too high and causes hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
How to Identify Blood Sugar Spikes
Fatigue is associated with a myriad of other conditions, as well as just day-to-day life and other stressors, so it alone cannot tell you whether you are experiencing a blood sugar spike. People with diabetes are encouraged to check their blood sugar levels to detect any sudden changes. This is one of the ways they can identify when blood sugar spikes happen.
The most common cause of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is improper insulin production. Insulin is the hormone that is tasked with regulating blood sugar levels, and if it is not being produced at high enough levels or at all, it can lead to high blood sugar levels.
There are a few reasons why insulin levels in the body are inadequate, including:
Other risk factors that contribute to diabetes include:
For a person without diabetes, insulin levels are unlikely to be considered at all. This is why it can be helpful to keep a food log and note levels of fatigue or other symptoms following every meal.
If fatigue generally sets in after eating, it could be a sign that it’s attributed to blood sugar levels. If this does happen, you should follow up with a healthcare provider and have your blood sugar levels checked.
How Hyperglycemia Is Diagnosed
How to Prevent Diabetes Fatigue
Blood sugar spikes that cause fatigue can be avoided using certain strategies, including:
Fiber is critical when it comes to crafting a diet that avoids swings in blood sugar. Knowingwhat type of fiberis good and how much of it to consume is vital.
It’s normal to feel fatigued sometimes, but if fatigue lasts longer than two weeks, it may be time to see a healthcare provider.
Talk to a healthcare provider if, in addition to fatigue, you have symptoms such as:
These symptoms could be a sign that you have or are at risk of developing diabetes.
For those who already have diabetes, regular appointments to monitor blood glucose and manage diabetes will ensure you have the right treatment plan for you.
When to See an Endocrinologist for Diabetes
Summary
High blood sugar can cause fatigue that contributes to diabetes fatigue, and blood sugar swings can also cause fatigue in people with normal blood sugar levels.
Talk to a healthcare provider if fatigue continues for more than two weeks or if you have other symptoms along with fatigue.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jain A, Sharma R, Choudhary PK, et al.Study of fatigue, depression, and associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus in industrial workers. Ind Psychiatry J. 2015 Jul-Dec;24(2):179-84. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.181731Kalra S, Sahay R.Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome.Diabetes Ther.2018 Aug;9(4):1421-1429. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0453-xMedline Plus.Metformin.Mount Sinai.Low blood sugar information.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose).Bellou V, Belbasis L, Tzoulaki I, Evangelou E.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: An exposure-wide umbrella review of meta-analyses.PLoS One. 2018 Mar 20;13(3):e0194127. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194127Shafaeizadeh S, Muhardi L, Henry CJ, et al.Macronutrient Composition and Food Form Affect Glucose and Insulin Responses in Humans.Nutrients.2018 Feb 8;10(2):188. doi:10.3390/nu10020188Parker L, Shaw CS, Banting L, et al.Acute Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise Elicit a Similar Improvement in 24-h Glycemic Control in Overweight and Obese Adults.Front Physiol.2017 Jan 9;7:661. doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00661Dou M, Ma Y, Ma AG, et al.Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.2016 Dec;25(4):747-753. doi:10.6133/apjcn.092015.48Sancini A, Ricci S, Tomei F, et al.Work related stress and blood glucose levels.Ann Ig.2017 Mar-Apr;29(2):123-133. doi:10.7416/ai.2017.2139Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jain A, Sharma R, Choudhary PK, et al.Study of fatigue, depression, and associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus in industrial workers. Ind Psychiatry J. 2015 Jul-Dec;24(2):179-84. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.181731Kalra S, Sahay R.Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome.Diabetes Ther.2018 Aug;9(4):1421-1429. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0453-xMedline Plus.Metformin.Mount Sinai.Low blood sugar information.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose).Bellou V, Belbasis L, Tzoulaki I, Evangelou E.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: An exposure-wide umbrella review of meta-analyses.PLoS One. 2018 Mar 20;13(3):e0194127. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194127Shafaeizadeh S, Muhardi L, Henry CJ, et al.Macronutrient Composition and Food Form Affect Glucose and Insulin Responses in Humans.Nutrients.2018 Feb 8;10(2):188. doi:10.3390/nu10020188Parker L, Shaw CS, Banting L, et al.Acute Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise Elicit a Similar Improvement in 24-h Glycemic Control in Overweight and Obese Adults.Front Physiol.2017 Jan 9;7:661. doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00661Dou M, Ma Y, Ma AG, et al.Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.2016 Dec;25(4):747-753. doi:10.6133/apjcn.092015.48Sancini A, Ricci S, Tomei F, et al.Work related stress and blood glucose levels.Ann Ig.2017 Mar-Apr;29(2):123-133. doi:10.7416/ai.2017.2139Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jain A, Sharma R, Choudhary PK, et al.Study of fatigue, depression, and associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus in industrial workers. Ind Psychiatry J. 2015 Jul-Dec;24(2):179-84. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.181731Kalra S, Sahay R.Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome.Diabetes Ther.2018 Aug;9(4):1421-1429. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0453-xMedline Plus.Metformin.Mount Sinai.Low blood sugar information.American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose).Bellou V, Belbasis L, Tzoulaki I, Evangelou E.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: An exposure-wide umbrella review of meta-analyses.PLoS One. 2018 Mar 20;13(3):e0194127. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194127Shafaeizadeh S, Muhardi L, Henry CJ, et al.Macronutrient Composition and Food Form Affect Glucose and Insulin Responses in Humans.Nutrients.2018 Feb 8;10(2):188. doi:10.3390/nu10020188Parker L, Shaw CS, Banting L, et al.Acute Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise Elicit a Similar Improvement in 24-h Glycemic Control in Overweight and Obese Adults.Front Physiol.2017 Jan 9;7:661. doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00661Dou M, Ma Y, Ma AG, et al.Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.2016 Dec;25(4):747-753. doi:10.6133/apjcn.092015.48Sancini A, Ricci S, Tomei F, et al.Work related stress and blood glucose levels.Ann Ig.2017 Mar-Apr;29(2):123-133. doi:10.7416/ai.2017.2139Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.
Jain A, Sharma R, Choudhary PK, et al.Study of fatigue, depression, and associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus in industrial workers. Ind Psychiatry J. 2015 Jul-Dec;24(2):179-84. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.181731
Kalra S, Sahay R.Diabetes Fatigue Syndrome.Diabetes Ther.2018 Aug;9(4):1421-1429. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0453-x
Medline Plus.Metformin.
Mount Sinai.Low blood sugar information.
American Diabetes Association.Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose).
Bellou V, Belbasis L, Tzoulaki I, Evangelou E.Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: An exposure-wide umbrella review of meta-analyses.PLoS One. 2018 Mar 20;13(3):e0194127. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194127
Shafaeizadeh S, Muhardi L, Henry CJ, et al.Macronutrient Composition and Food Form Affect Glucose and Insulin Responses in Humans.Nutrients.2018 Feb 8;10(2):188. doi:10.3390/nu10020188
Parker L, Shaw CS, Banting L, et al.Acute Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Exercise Elicit a Similar Improvement in 24-h Glycemic Control in Overweight and Obese Adults.Front Physiol.2017 Jan 9;7:661. doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00661
Dou M, Ma Y, Ma AG, et al.Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.2016 Dec;25(4):747-753. doi:10.6133/apjcn.092015.48
Sancini A, Ricci S, Tomei F, et al.Work related stress and blood glucose levels.Ann Ig.2017 Mar-Apr;29(2):123-133. doi:10.7416/ai.2017.2139
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of diabetes.
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