My mum - diabetic, tired all the time - alternative therapies?

[popmum]

Anyone with any advice...long shot really...my mum is 67 - quite fit and active normally - but has had long list of health problems within the last 5 or so years - breast cancer (caught v early, ok now, glaucoma (new lenses in eyes now ok), diabetic (controlled through diet, as she eats really well) and recently chest infection (viral, nothing Docs can do, apparantly) but she is just so tired all the time - can do one thing and is exhausted.
She is a bit of a bad patient and prone to taking to her bed for the slightest thing but this has just gone on so long now...the chest infection is 8 weeks (keeps going back to docs but they say she needs to rest). The tiredness was there before chest thing anyway.
She would normally be doing taichi, walks, aqua fit etc but she can't do anything
Sooooo wondered if some kind of alternative therapy would be good - any ideas ??

What are her iron levels like? Iron deficiency - even mild - can lead to symptoms of fatigue, reduced immune system (8 week chest infection?) and, even if you eat well, once you get over 50 you can find it more difficult to absorb the nutrients from your food. Iron-rich foods, multivitamin supplements with iron and vitamin C-rich foods like kiwifruit to help with iron absorption could be a good first step

Doesn't sound like she's taking antibiotics for the chest infection? If she has taken any recently then that can upset your natural balance - she could find that drinking probiotic drinks could help a little.

Stress can be fatiguing, as can anxiety and depression. If she's had a catalogue of health problems it could be that she's rather run-down mentally. And lack of sunshine in the winter months doesn't help either. A holiday somewhere sunny might be a boost.

Obviously, it's important that she gets plenty of rest, relaxation and that she gets enough energy through her food. Hope she feels better soon.

Thank you so much for your reply - funnily enough someone mentioned iron to me so will get her to check this out (she is having bloods done soon)

Don't think she is depressed as such - down maybe but nothing more...she went to South America in Nov so I think is all holidayed out...!

Will speak to her later, thanks again....