Constant Tiredness

[Stevie2023]

Really struggling at the moment, after being rushed in to hospital in 2023 with Keto acidosis (1.6) and blood sugars of 27.4, they have spent over a year carrying out tests with everything returning a negative. So they have released me back to my doctor, stating i have LADA.

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2021, so i removed added sugar from my diet, lost a stone in weight and was no longer pre-diabetes. I have never been overweight and always had a BMI of below 25, in fact growing up i was skin and bone only, 10 stone wet through until about 25 and then 11 stone 8 at 5 foot 11".

Suddenly with in a year of losing the weight i crossed the line, only minor, but become diabetic and was put on Metformin. After about 6 months i started to feel really tired, struggling to walk, struggling to climb stairs and going to the toilet 8 times in the night. So i saw an emergency doctor, as mine were too busy to see, at which point i was told i was releasing pure glucose in my wee, it was off the scale. I was referred back to my doctors but struggled to get any answers and all they did was increase my Metformin. It was at this point i was rushed to hospital, told by a temporary doctor i was extremely poorly and needed to be in A & E immediately and an ambulance wouldn't be quick enough, could my partner take me.

Since all this started i have struggled with lack of energy and now after having loads of tests on my pelvis and hips due to excessive pain, plus major ankle swelling, i'm now told its probably down to my diabetes and i need to get it under control. My quarterly bloods (HbA1c) although at 152 when i was rushed in to hospital, have remained uncontrolled at around 63, sometimes increases but never going below. I'm current on Metformin twice a day, Nova Rapid 3 times a day and Levemir morning and night. The insulin injections are only small doses, as at one point i had to stop the Nova Rapid as i was over dosing and sometimes even back on it my blood sugars drop below 4. I am also activity reactive and have to avoid insulin or reduce the level if i'm going to take exercise, which i struggle to do.

My weight did increase by 2 stone and BMI to 27 with the insulin but now back on Metformin, it has dropped and stabilised.

I feel like my body is dying, all the time and i'm not sure what to do. I've cut my carbs back (well under 90 per meal) and adjusted my insulin accordingly but nothing makes any difference. Has anyone else suffered the same and did you find anything that helped? i work full time and find it hard to concentrate most of the time, in fact i have very little concentration at all.

 

[Inka]

Do you have a Libre @Stevie2023 ? That would help you spot when/if you’re going too high as high blood sugar can cause tiredness. Also, as you take Metformin, have you had your vitamin B12 tested? And have you had things like your thyroid and iron levels tested?

 

[Stevie2023]

Do you have a Libre @Stevie2023 ? That would help you spot when/if you’re going too high as high blood sugar can cause tiredness. Also, as you take Metformin, have you had your vitamin B12 tested? And have you had things like your thyroid and iron levels tested?

Thank you, very much appreciated. I don't have a Libre, i have looked in to it but am unable to afford one. The NHS only provide free for Type 1. My thyroid test was normal and so are my Liver and Kidney tests but not specifically had a B12 test. I will look in to this, thank you.

 

[helli]

Thank you, very much appreciated. I don't have a Libre, i have looked in to it but am unable to afford one.

If you have a compatible phone, it is likely to be beneficial to sign up for the free Libre trial on their website.
This will give you a good insight of when the highs occur over a two week period.

If you need data for a bit longer, Dexcom are also offering a 10 day trial with their Dexcom ONE CGM on their website.

 

[SB2015]

You mention that you have been told you have LADA. This is effectively Type 1 diagnosed later in life. Many doctors refer to it as Type 1. As you are effectively Type1 you are likely to be given Libre sensors or Dexcom on prescription. It is certainly worth investigating.

In the early days of Type 1, especially when diagnosed later (I was 53 at diagnosis) , start in very small doses. For these it is useful to have a half unit pen. Have they given you those ?

It sounds like you are on fixed doses of Novorapid, which will then require you to eat the same amount of carbs to match the dose. The alternative is to learn how to count your carbs (that is all carbs not just the sugars) and then how to adjust your meal bolus. This enables you to eat whatever you want at each meal, and reduce the chance of going hypo afterwards.

Keep the questions coming.