Lethargic after food, diabetic?
Discussion
Ill start by saying i will make a doctors appointment but i am dreading it as i am hearing they basically dont want you down there and aren't really interested, but we will see...
In the mean time.
I am currently doing a job for a lady who is type 1 diabetic and we were just chatting, i mentioned that i hate afternoons because after i have eaten i am incredibly tired, weekends are a nightmare as within an hour of eating i fall asleep, i have zero energy and my wife just thinks im being lazy
at work its a bit different as i just battle through but some days its a struggle.
I have found that i feel like this after eating anything like bread, rice, pasta, potato.
The other day she tested my blood sugar and around an hour after eating it was 11.something. All i had eaten was a small amount of sushi rice and 4 of those little pulled pork pastry wraps from m&s so not like id just smashed a fry up
So for the last 3 days i have made a conscious effort to not eat any of the above- which is bloody difficult tbh as almost every lunch type food is one of the above.
Anyway, i have felt fine after eating and today she tested before and after results which were 4.something and then an hour or so later 5.something.
She's telling me its not right and basically sounds like type 2 diabetic, although doing the old google check i dont think i have any other symptoms apart from the lethargic feeling.
I dread weekends, my wife gets the hump if i fall asleep, but i cant help it, its like I've taken drugs so this weekend i will go and get a load of salad type food so i feel ok. All we usually have at home is bread type stuff, so sandwiches, crumpets, noodles, rice......
This thing seems particularly bad during the days, evenings i dont seem to feel as tired, but i am tired anyway by the time we eat, which is around 8-9pm, i do sometimes fall asleep quick after but im usually going to bed at 11 ish anyway.
Mornings are fine as i dont eat anything until lunch. Sometimes at home i do but im knocked out double quick when i do.
In the mean time.
I am currently doing a job for a lady who is type 1 diabetic and we were just chatting, i mentioned that i hate afternoons because after i have eaten i am incredibly tired, weekends are a nightmare as within an hour of eating i fall asleep, i have zero energy and my wife just thinks im being lazy
at work its a bit different as i just battle through but some days its a struggle. I have found that i feel like this after eating anything like bread, rice, pasta, potato.
The other day she tested my blood sugar and around an hour after eating it was 11.something. All i had eaten was a small amount of sushi rice and 4 of those little pulled pork pastry wraps from m&s so not like id just smashed a fry up
So for the last 3 days i have made a conscious effort to not eat any of the above- which is bloody difficult tbh as almost every lunch type food is one of the above.
Anyway, i have felt fine after eating and today she tested before and after results which were 4.something and then an hour or so later 5.something.
She's telling me its not right and basically sounds like type 2 diabetic, although doing the old google check i dont think i have any other symptoms apart from the lethargic feeling.
I dread weekends, my wife gets the hump if i fall asleep, but i cant help it, its like I've taken drugs
so this weekend i will go and get a load of salad type food so i feel ok. All we usually have at home is bread type stuff, so sandwiches, crumpets, noodles, rice......This thing seems particularly bad during the days, evenings i dont seem to feel as tired, but i am tired anyway by the time we eat, which is around 8-9pm, i do sometimes fall asleep quick after but im usually going to bed at 11 ish anyway.
Mornings are fine as i dont eat anything until lunch. Sometimes at home i do but im knocked out double quick when i do.
A random glucose of 11 is not normal and in fact assuming it was accurate (the machines are not always calibrated correctly) anything over 11 is by definition in the diabetic range. It’s also perfectly common for frank type 2 diabetics to have no symptoms at all. If you’re worried about your GP fobbing you off, you only need to tell them the result and they ought to arrange a blood test purely on that basis.
Edited by DeWar on Friday 7th August 22:45
Definitely go to the doctor's.
Are you overweight? How old are you?
A light amount of carbs for breakfast might kick start your pancreas each day, so the bigger carb intake at lunch might be dealt with better.
Check out low carb ideas on line - loads of resources. I enjoy salads with sardine, chicken, olives, cheeses, name, etc. I am a T1 diabetic and it is all manageable but you really need to get it checked out to prevent any longer term complications, if it is diabetes. A one off finger prick test can be misleading, you need to check your longer term levels (HBA1C).
Are you overweight? How old are you?
A light amount of carbs for breakfast might kick start your pancreas each day, so the bigger carb intake at lunch might be dealt with better.
Check out low carb ideas on line - loads of resources. I enjoy salads with sardine, chicken, olives, cheeses, name, etc. I am a T1 diabetic and it is all manageable but you really need to get it checked out to prevent any longer term complications, if it is diabetes. A one off finger prick test can be misleading, you need to check your longer term levels (HBA1C).
I am 40 and i am overweight. im 5ft 9 and 14st although i certainly don't appear fat iykwim, i have got a belly though which is rock hard and has been growing the last few years.
A separate issue but i struggle to lose it, even if i watch what i eat it doesn't seem to make any difference at all. I do a physical job but dont do much physical lifting now as my back is bad and i have to be so careful, i do ride my bike 3-4 times a week and do about 6 miles each time.
The only time i lose weight is if i am mega stressed out, dont eat properly and graft like a 20 year old.
A separate issue but i struggle to lose it, even if i watch what i eat it doesn't seem to make any difference at all. I do a physical job but dont do much physical lifting now as my back is bad and i have to be so careful, i do ride my bike 3-4 times a week and do about 6 miles each time.
The only time i lose weight is if i am mega stressed out, dont eat properly and graft like a 20 year old.
I don't eat breakfast 
i don't think i ever have, even as a kid.
two reasons really.
My appetite is non existent, you could show me the best food in the world and it would be like eating cardboard.
On the occasions i have eaten breakfast it has made me even hungrier earlier on in the day, the weight piles on even quicker.
i don't think i ever have, even as a kid.two reasons really.
My appetite is non existent, you could show me the best food in the world and it would be like eating cardboard.
On the occasions i have eaten breakfast it has made me even hungrier earlier on in the day, the weight piles on even quicker.
I don't know much about this stuff but common sense suggests you're eating the wrong foods and at the wrong times - apart from the breakfast issue if your evening meal is your biggest meal of the day then eating that a couple of hours before you go to sleep seems far too late. Might explain why you're not hungary in the morning!
Most snacky food is carby, the food industry has been quite slow to cotton on although there are lots of snack foods that are high protein low carb if you look. Some are allright too!
Salads are your friend, when I ate lunch regularly I'd take a big salad to work with some meat/cheese/seafood, some preserved chargrilled veg thrown in aubergine/artichokes etc
Also lots you can do with eggs, nuts arena good snack too, and you can get substitute rice made from cauliflower and low carb protein noodles, also look at spiralizing corgette as a pasta substitute.
All super healthy too.
Salads are your friend, when I ate lunch regularly I'd take a big salad to work with some meat/cheese/seafood, some preserved chargrilled veg thrown in aubergine/artichokes etc
Also lots you can do with eggs, nuts arena good snack too, and you can get substitute rice made from cauliflower and low carb protein noodles, also look at spiralizing corgette as a pasta substitute.
All super healthy too.
OP - you need to go to the doctors and get a range of tests done, blood count to rule out anaemia, kidney function amongst others but main should be Hba1c - this gives you long term blood glucose results over the last 3 monthsish. That will tell you if you are diabetic or prediabetic or not.
If you get the diagnosis do not despair as you can turn it around. If you lose maybe a stone and half and retest I’ll bet you wil, no longer be in the diabetic range. Keep it off and you may never get there again. Good luck.
If you get the diagnosis do not despair as you can turn it around. If you lose maybe a stone and half and retest I’ll bet you wil, no longer be in the diabetic range. Keep it off and you may never get there again. Good luck.
Pretty good replies so far.
I think the biggest impact will be replacing white carbs with wholegrain carbs (brown bread, wholewheat pasta etc). White carbs digest quickly and dump sugar into your system hence the carb crash.
Also, get more sleep. Go to bed earlier for a week.
These are the two things that made a difference when I used to work.
One final thing - be honest with yourself. You're the same height as me but 3 stone heavier. I'm only 11 stone because I lift weights otherwise I would be lighter. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur when people are overweight.
I think the biggest impact will be replacing white carbs with wholegrain carbs (brown bread, wholewheat pasta etc). White carbs digest quickly and dump sugar into your system hence the carb crash.
Also, get more sleep. Go to bed earlier for a week.
These are the two things that made a difference when I used to work.
One final thing - be honest with yourself. You're the same height as me but 3 stone heavier. I'm only 11 stone because I lift weights otherwise I would be lighter. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur when people are overweight.
m3jappa said:
I
The other day she tested my blood sugar and around an hour after eating it was 11.something. All i had eaten was a small amount of sushi rice and 4 of those little pulled pork pastry wraps from m&s so not like id just smashed a fry up
Ironically, a fry up may be just what you need instead of what you are eating. Protein and fat won't spike your insulin response like starchy carbs do. Try it and see. Just avoid chips, baked beans, ketchup/brown sauce etc.The other day she tested my blood sugar and around an hour after eating it was 11.something. All i had eaten was a small amount of sushi rice and 4 of those little pulled pork pastry wraps from m&s so not like id just smashed a fry up
Thank you to you all 
I will go and see the doctor and see what's going on.
I think I'm just tired as well, sundays are worst but then i generally work a physical job 6 days a week and this time of the year will look at work in the evening, so quite often i leave home at 7;45 and get home at between 6-8pm.
yesterday i fell asleep again and i had made a point if eating some granary toast and then a salad for lunch with the only carbs being an avocado.
I am overweight and you would think i was a little bowling ball but im really not, when i talk to people and say i want to lose weight they look at me like ive lost it.
My body looks normal, except for the rock hard belly and id say chin if im wearing a t shirt which i usually am you cant really see the belly, it is clear though to me that the belly probably weighs a bit and needs to go.
If i was 11 stone id be emaciated.
My eating habits are terrible. no breakfast, several coffees, lunch around 1pm then dinner around 8-9pm then bed around midnight. meals are large and thats because im starving!
I will go and see the doctor and see what's going on.
I think I'm just tired as well, sundays are worst but then i generally work a physical job 6 days a week and this time of the year will look at work in the evening, so quite often i leave home at 7;45 and get home at between 6-8pm.
yesterday i fell asleep again and i had made a point if eating some granary toast and then a salad for lunch with the only carbs being an avocado.
I am overweight and you would think i was a little bowling ball but im really not, when i talk to people and say i want to lose weight they look at me like ive lost it.
My body looks normal, except for the rock hard belly and id say chin
if im wearing a t shirt which i usually am you cant really see the belly, it is clear though to me that the belly probably weighs a bit and needs to go.If i was 11 stone id be emaciated.
My eating habits are terrible. no breakfast, several coffees, lunch around 1pm then dinner around 8-9pm then bed around midnight. meals are large and thats because im starving!
mstrbkr said:
It sounds like you are willing to make a change, so I would start by eating breakfast, and eating dinner earlier.
Have to agree, Breakfast really does set your body up for the day, eating later doesn't help your health.Before I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, breakfast was very hit and miss. Now I never miss breakfast. Always try and eat the evening meal by 18:00 (that doesn't always work though)
Good that your getting the blood tests done. I went to the docs about 6 years ago for some unrelated reason, and he then decided it was time for some blood tests as I hadn't had any done for a while and was now heading to my mid-40s.
Turns out I was was borderline Type 2 with high blood sugar, cholesterol and lipids. Wasn't overweight and was reasonably fit, just ate too much sugar/carb stuff. Info from the doctor was a good starting point and then getting away from the sugar/carbs was hard. Took about 2-3 weeks to feel comfortable.
Started by making sure I go at least 12 hours without food every day. Dumped all bread, cakes, biccies, crackers and similar. Also gave up sausages, burgers and any meat that wasn't lean. Ate more veg and salads - no, or few, carbs with evening meal. Check food packaging for ingredients and % sugar.
Eat nuts. Lots of nuts as a snack. Find something sugar free that tastes nice to drink when you're looking to snack - I've discovered peppermint tea and orange/cinnamon tea - have one instead of eating.
I've also gotten used to exercising early in the morning without eating anything until I come back. This can now be a 2-3 hour bike ride.
It takes time to get used to, but does feel better. The upshot was that my blood levels had returned to a normal range about 3 months later.
Good luck, but remember we're all different so what works for one, might not work for another. But eating better stuff, less carbs, and just less food will help.
Turns out I was was borderline Type 2 with high blood sugar, cholesterol and lipids. Wasn't overweight and was reasonably fit, just ate too much sugar/carb stuff. Info from the doctor was a good starting point and then getting away from the sugar/carbs was hard. Took about 2-3 weeks to feel comfortable.
Started by making sure I go at least 12 hours without food every day. Dumped all bread, cakes, biccies, crackers and similar. Also gave up sausages, burgers and any meat that wasn't lean. Ate more veg and salads - no, or few, carbs with evening meal. Check food packaging for ingredients and % sugar.
Eat nuts. Lots of nuts as a snack. Find something sugar free that tastes nice to drink when you're looking to snack - I've discovered peppermint tea and orange/cinnamon tea - have one instead of eating.
I've also gotten used to exercising early in the morning without eating anything until I come back. This can now be a 2-3 hour bike ride.
It takes time to get used to, but does feel better. The upshot was that my blood levels had returned to a normal range about 3 months later.
Good luck, but remember we're all different so what works for one, might not work for another. But eating better stuff, less carbs, and just less food will help.
Well done for doing all that, you have great will power and have been committed.
It is no excuse i know that but i feel food is a bit like smoking.
You know its bad, you know you shouldn't do it but just one more wont hurt will it?
I gave up smoking only to start vaping, people say 'oh i hate that i smoke, i really want to give up' but the truth is they like smoking! i did, i like the sensation of smoke going down my throat and ill admit that.
Food is the same, to be quite honest i just f
king love food i am happy eating almost anything but the easiest option is always something bloody terrible for you, healthy eating is without a doubt much harder than nipping into almost any shop and grabbing a sandwich, crisps and a chocolate bar. I am relatively headless first thing as im thinking about work and not knocking up a crayfish salad with a home made dressing.
That said though so far this week i have been buying plain salad and then mixing in stuff like chicken, olives, ham, prawns. Bloody lovely!
It is no excuse i know that but i feel food is a bit like smoking.
You know its bad, you know you shouldn't do it but just one more wont hurt will it?
I gave up smoking only to start vaping, people say 'oh i hate that i smoke, i really want to give up' but the truth is they like smoking! i did, i like the sensation of smoke going down my throat and ill admit that.
Food is the same, to be quite honest i just f
king love food i am happy eating almost anything but the easiest option is always something bloody terrible for you, healthy eating is without a doubt much harder than nipping into almost any shop and grabbing a sandwich, crisps and a chocolate bar. I am relatively headless first thing as im thinking about work and not knocking up a crayfish salad with a home made dressing.That said though so far this week i have been buying plain salad and then mixing in stuff like chicken, olives, ham, prawns. Bloody lovely!
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