To think it’s not normal and ‘just my age’ to be this tired?

[Pompomfloofball]

I’m 42.
I have to children - 16 and 9 and I work four days a week. I’m also a t1 diabetic which does possibly not help and my diet isn’t good. I take a multivitamin and B12.
I am absolutely exhausted - like all the time. I am now turning down things with friends and family because I am just simply too tired. On my non working day the kids say, ‘what are we doing?’and even though it’s the holiday I have to say - nothing. I need to sleep.
in the term time I have been spending my non working day asleep after the school run.

Overnight I get 7 hours sleep and I wake up just thinking about when I can go back to sleep. I’ve just been asleep for three hours despite not getting up took 9am today. When I’m working from home it is inevitable that I’ll fall asleep - even if I don’t mean to.
Im exhausted after a short walk.

I saw the GP and he basically said you aren’t 20 anymore and you’re in peri so what do you expect. He grudgingly booked bloods for this week for me.

I’m not overweight - bmi is around 19/20. I don’t smoke / vape or drink. My diet is sketchy - I am not interested in food because of being t1 possibly and I know I don’t have much iron or really any fresh food.

Essentially is it normal to be so exhausted at 42 that I cannot do everyday stuff and what I actually want is to spend all day, every day asleep. Even getting up and dressed some days is a huge effort and I’m exhausted again afterwards.

Am I just lazy??

Your diet is toast, crisps and chocolate? No wonder you're tired, you're not giving your body enough fuel to work with. You're probably also anaemic. You need lots of protein, fruit and veg.

That is appalling op

yes

it made me tired just reading it op

did the op know your diet when you went to him?

op you have more reason than most to improve this diet given you have diabetes

That's pretty good. My consultant wants me to aim for 48 so he'd be chuffed with 46.

I think that's the thing though, 46 is considered pretty good for a T1 because the risk of hypos would be too much with too tight control but in non T1 world , 46 puts you in pre diabetic range, so that is probably in part responsible for some tiredness. Like I say, I also struggle massively with tiredness (though my hba1c is in 50s so not as good as yours).

I know carbs are offset by insulin so it's not diet controlled, but I do find I cope a bit better when eating less carbs and not having the high numbers before the insulin kicks In.

I didn't know that about working 7x harder but yes it's ridiculously hard 24/7 and mentally exhausting as well as physical so you have my sympathies because unless you live with it, you can't appreciate how hard it is.

Unfortunately you are also at the age for peri, same as me, when you're this age and also have a chronic condition like T1 it can be hard to know what the cause is but it doesn't sound like your levels of tiredness are normal so worth investigating further

Do you eat with your children?

I am another TAAT. Been like this my whole life. Daily fatigue. Got thyroid related issues.

Rest when you can. I am also early 40s.

No. They have something which is not toast 🤣

Should add I am also very tired a lot and am younger than you. I have 2 hormonal conditions and 1 other condition and chronic fatigue plays a part in all 3 of them. So sometimes we unfortunately have things that just make us tired. There are things to help but it may always be something that makes you more fatigued than others. So do let yourself rest if you can.

No wonder you're exhausted! You need a good feed!

So you never sit down and eat with your children?

What do they think of your diet?
I imagine knowing your diabetic, they are concerned

I'm 44, peri and pretty tired. But I'm not that tired. I dont sleep in the day, I take the kids out etc.

Work on your diet, eat fresh fruit and veg and plenty of protein. It's no wonder you feel crap if you are living on shite.

I'm like you at 46 I can no longer ignore my poor diet, if I eat well then im nowhere near as tired.
Unfortunately you are going to have to eat better, I appreciate thats actually tricky as a lifetime of one diet is hard to change, I dont manage all the time but I very quickly suffer.

I’m also going to suggest your diet needs a good look at it. If you keep eating the way you are now, you’re storing up even more trouble for the future. I know you say it’s a hassle keeping yourself alive, but you’re working against yourself with the food you’re eating.

i would suggest asking your partner/family for help so you can get a week or two off and focus on changing your diet. It’ll make a difference to you and your children (what do they eat?)
I use ZOE and it’s been life changing - my joints no longer ache just walking upstairs and I have more energy. Some of their recipes are online if you want to take a look. Your 16 yr old could help cook too.

If you're too tired to think about cooking maybe a meal delivery service could help. I use one called frive and it's pretty good. Or there are things like hello fresh or gousto

No it's not normal! Please don't let the medics fob you off - keep going back til they take you seriously.
You obviously have diabetes, so there might be some avenues to explore in connection with that.
Some support with your diet may also help.

I was breathless just walking with no energy and a very painful mouth. Terrible diet for years.assumed my age(71)was the cause. Diagnosed with anaemia and close to heart failure. Had blood transfusions and iron infusions and am now back to normal.

It’s normal to them. I don’t think they are concerned.

I know I probably should up the vitamin content.
I just feel like I give and give and give in terms of just keeping myself alive and it’s hard work already. I often feel my body actively works to sabotage me 🤣 and I have very little sympathy with it.

I would like to be able to feel I can have a day out with my children though, or an evening out with friends. I’m just too tired at the moment. I often make plans and then cancel them. The mind is willing but the body can’t cope!

Before the OP goes back, probably worth trying a diet that involves more than toast, crisps and chocolate

I had this and literally 3 weeks ago bloods came back that my folate was critically low. I’ve been on high dose folic acid since and it’s been in the last week where I’m not falling asleep as soon as I sit down. Still not 100% but feeling so much better than I did 2 weeks ago

If your children eat more nutrient-dense food than you do, just add an extra portion to what is being prepared for them, and eat it.

I’m currently cooking for a generally well-nourished DC with ME / Chronic Fatigue syndrome, and the advice is to aim for a low-sugar, low carb diet that minimises spikes in blood sugar. Higher protein, higher fat. But even without going to that extreme, simply eating a well-balanced diet in reasonable portion size would seem an obvious first step to improving your fatigue levels.

Have you had your iron, B12, thyroid and folate tested? As mine were all out of whack once and I felt like hell-these conditions o believe are quite common with T1D as all autonimme x

op, I’m wondering whether alongside diabetes, you have an eating disorder? Because what you list… crisps toast and chocolate is concerning

I don't think 7 hours sleep at night is enough Maybe for one or two nights. I know it's what a lot of people get, but I feel a lot better if I get more - 9-10 is ideal. It usually only happens on weekends though.

Yes op…. It’s “normal” to them but it doesn’t mean it is healthy for them to have a mother who never sits down and eats with them. And all they ever see her eat is toast, crisps and chocolate.

You need to address your diet and you need to set a much better example to your children.

and I suspect when diet is improved, this tiredness will improve exponentially

Your diet is absolutely shocking. If you address this, you will surely see an improvement.

Good idea to get bloods done.

Goodness me, why aren't you eating right with T1? You aren't getting any proper nutrients from your poor diet and that is carbs heavy and a chocolate bar every day! I was borderline anemic a long time ago, as a vegetarian, and felt lethargic. Do you look pale and is does your heart sometimes feel like it speeds up then goes back to a normal rhythm? These are 2 symptoms I had with very low iron. The dr told me to go on some iron tablets and eat more iron rich foods. I hope the blood tests will show something, but low iron/anemia does seem likely. I wasn't a mother or had any pets when it hapoened, but was a student and helped look after small nephew/nieces and felt drained when I was still really young. Please sort out your diet and look after yourself with 2 young daughters who need you.