Diabetes and Fatigue: Treatment and prevention of fatigue

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Treatment and prevention of fatigue
Gary Pepper, MD
YourTotalHealth.com

Elevated glucose (blood sugar) is a common cause of fatigue in people with diabetes. Diabetic individuals can reduce the risk of developing fatigue by controlling their glucose through a physician-prescribed plan. A diabetes treatment plan typically features diet and exercise and may involve insulin and other diabetes medications.

insulin pen

People with and without diabetes can reduce the likelihood of developing fatigue with:

* Regular physical activity, but not within a few hours before bedtime
* Proper nutrition
* Achieving a desirable body weight
* Adequate, regular sleep
* Limited consumption of alcohol and caffeine
* Stress management
*Mental health therapy, if needed

Treatment for fatigue generally depends on its cause, and can usually be accomplished by making the same lifestyle changes that help prevent the condition. For instance, a sleep-deprived individual may eliminate fatigue by going to bed at an earlier time.

Sleep deprivation is, in fact, the first – and perhaps easiest – factor to eliminate when seeking the source of fatigue. Small children generally require 14 hours to 16 hours of sleep, whereas most adults can function regularly with only six hours to eight hours of sleep a night. An adult who averages less than six hours of sleep each night may therefore be contributing to the onset of fatigue. People with sleep disorders may benefit from evaluation and treatment in a sleep clinic.

Individuals with fatigue caused by medical factors, such as disease or infection, may require medications or in some cases surgery to treat the condition and its associated fatigue. Medication-induced fatigue can be eased if the physician is able to prescribe an alternate treatment.