When do I stop feeling tired?

[Banjo-Sausage]

Hi All,
I was diagnosed type 2 just over a month ago. I wasn't surprised as I am heavy. I'm now reigning in the diet and taking my medication but around 6 weeks in I've not noticed any difference in the grinding tiredness. I could still sleep day and night.
Any advice?

 

[Drummer]

Are you checking your blood glucose levels?
If they are still high, that can result in feeling tired.
I need to be very strict to remain in normal numbers, eating only 40 gm of carbs maximum.

 

[Banjo-Sausage]

Are you checking your blood glucose levels?
If they are still high, that can result in feeling tired.
I need to be very strict to remain in normal numbers, eating only 40 gm of carbs maximum.

I've not been given anything to monitor my glucose. I assume because I'm still newly diagnosed. I've still to get an appointment at the diabetes clinic too. I guess the wheels are moving slower because of COVID.

 

[Stuvart]

Sadly as your t2 there's very little chance of you being prescribed a meter. As to the tiredness your body is having to adjust to lower sugars and it should pass after a while though how long is entirely individual. I'm only 3 months into this (t2) and still get tired spells but there getting less and less as my body adjusts.

More people will be along soon with self funding meter recommendations though I use a gluconarvii.(cheap and works).

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Banjo-Sausage, welcome to the forum.

As kindly mentioned, it does take some time for your blood sugar to get to a healthy place so don't be too worried if you're not seeing quick results.

Most type 2s buy their blood glucose monitor on Amazon as it's really handy for checking your numbers and making sure you're on the right track.

The following page is really helpful re testing so do take a look https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Banjo-Sausage
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but pleased that you have found the forum.

Do fire away with any specific questions that arise as you find your way around the forum, and/or dip into the Learning Zone.no questions are considered silly on here. just ask.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the tiredness you are still experiencing @Banjo-Sausage

What medication are you taking at the moment? And what have you been cutting back on food-wise?

Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Note down everything you eat and drink, along with estimate the amount of total carbohydrate (not just ‘of which sugars’) in your meals and snacks.

There are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will have probably cut out straight away, but you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. Keeping a food diary can help you start to identify which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu, and which meals (and drinks and snacks) have the biggest ‘carb load’ - which can highlight some easy targets for tweaks and changes.

Adding a BG meter can also help you see the effect of different portion sizes and types of carbs, as well as your general BG levels, to see if they are possibly behind your ingoing tiredness. If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50. It is the ongoing cost of the strips that can make a huge difference, some are £30 for a pot!

You may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework for structuring your BG checks if you decide to give that a go.