Diabetes Fatigue

Mental and Emotional Wellness
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The problem I find with this is that while it is an excellent idea I have had the epsom salts in a bag and rarely get around to using it because of the time it takes. However here is the approach I used. I would get a dishwashing container and put it on a towel under my desk. I would put in about 1.5 litres of hot water that is not too hot to put feet in and then soaked while working on something else at my desk with computer.

Problem is it cooled off and I wanted to soak for longer to get the most out of it, so decided to take a 16 oz mug of the liquid out and put it in the microwave for 2 minutes and then put it back in and that warmed up the total of the water just enough to use it longer. I repeated it a few times, as why not as I was doing something else at the same time, so it was not a waste of time, but it does take effort to set up…that was with the epsom salts in it of course.

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Keep in mind, lol…soaking in epsom salts can have a laxative effect just as taking magnesium can.

I remember warming up water so I could soak my feet longer. I had a foot problem at one time so I ended up buying an official foot bath that keeps the water warmer for longer. It worked okay, the water still cools off too much, but it did last longer.

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Yes I had bought one of those too years ago and used it a couple of times in my bright bathroom that has a plug in it so it could be plugged in but sitting on the hard toilet seat was not as comfortable as sitting in front of my computer so that is why I resorted to the warming up of the mug full of the epsom salts bath. And my main reason for wanting to do it was to see if it could increase my red cells count which has been an 18 year effort so far.
So that is why I am now doing the repeated Ivermectin doses to see if that can help as I already take the necessary supplements to improve my blood counts.

Right now I could go to sleep even though my blood sugar is 4.9 mmol and I have just eaten. I already know that a low blood sugar does also bring on fatigue. So for me fatigue has been my number one complaint.

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Not as bas as when I originally posted this. COVID meant working from home instead of in the office for about 14 months (until June, when I have to go back). That helped more than I expected – I didn’t have to plan ahead as much, since I could change my pump without worrying about things. Changing it at work sucks because I have to pack all the supplies, remember to check my pump reservoir quantity, etc… It’s just easier here. Plus, no need to use a public restroom for it.

I’ve also been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD since making this post. Getting on meds for that has helped some. Mostly, it’s a “There’s a legit reason I feel this way, and not just me pity-partying.” That’s a comfort, really. Hard for me to explain, but knowing it’s not just me wallowing in self-pity does help.

And I’ve learned to take a beat when my pump starts alarming (Medtronic loves to give you 2, 3, or 4 alerts all at once because more beeps are better, right?). I take a breath, let it out, then react to the pump’s alarms. That’s given me some clarity – a chance to think and tell myself “hey, I’m probably high because I’ve got a bad infusion site, not because I’m a horrible diabetic, or because I underdosed for those carbs, which isn’t good, but it’s not the end of the world.” That sort of thing. I still mumble unkind things under my breath sometimes when I start hearing the beeps, but it doesn’t spike my anger/depression like it used to.

My diabetes doctor isn’t much help at all here. He’s very much a “here’s your prescriptions, next patient!” kind of guy. Unfortunate, but better than my endocrinologist who literally kicked out his diabetes patients during COVID. All of them, I think. My GP doc is much more concerned with mental health than the diabetes office. Strange how that works. I really believe any office that specializes in treating any long-term or permanent illness really needs to bring mental health into the practice as a serious and legit aspect of their treatment, but that’s a soapbox for another day.

So yeah. I struggle. And I struggle with myself, knowing I don’t eat right, don’t exercise enough, etc. etc. But I’m trying to learn to not beat myself up quite as much over it.

31 years last month. It’s been a long road. But I’ll get there, eventually.

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Interesting stuff, CaM2. I think its really hard to find a Doc to work with multiple conditions, so that’s great that you found a guy who at least acknowledges multiple conditions exist. That’s something. I’m glad covid had some positive benefit. That’s interesting. Thank goodness you got diagnosis’s, that’s half the battle. A lot of people don’t even make it that far. You sound like you really making huge steps forward in your treatment regime. Congratulations! Good work! That stuff isn’t easy.

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No, @CaM2, I’m in a state of depressed surrender right now, and have been for a while. It’s not easy to fight all at once a bunch of serious endocrine disorders, my own endocrine-powered instincts, and some very nasty medical bureaucracies.

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Understand how you feel as it’s been 53 yrs for me. There’s times when I’m so exhausted by all this I think I’ll just stop trying. But I never, ever stop. It’s truly exhausting - even a one-day vacation from it all would be so wonderful! :heart::heart::heart:

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Not looking to sway you or encourage a way of eating, but
Fasting for 24 hours pretty much allows me to stop thinking about blood sugar. I nearly always get thst alarm that I have not done anything with my pump in 12 hours.
Everything I was told about fasting turns out to be false.
I fast every weekend and I don’t have to even think about corrections or going high or low. I’m a big fan. It also gives me a break for my constant micro blousing and computing etc

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Wow Edward2 - you must have some great A1C! Good for you. After 53 yrs I am so brittle and now my sodium levels are too low. If it’s not one thing it’s another. All the best to you! :+1::+1::+1: