Intense sugar cravings and fatigue

[Zoraflora]

Im am having serious sugar cravings which seem to happen in the afternoons especially when Im tired, which is a regular occurrence as Im waking at four or five in the morning unable to go back to sleep.

Im eating well, plenty of protein, fibre etc at each meal but my god when Im tried I cannot conrol myself. Im exercising as well but find the next day Im shattered and literally crave sugar.

Its a vicious circle.

Has anyone experienced this and how do you deal with it.

Currently me!! I put it down to breastfeeding and new baby but could be menopause. (Been menopausal for yearsss - ivf baby) i ate sweets in asda car park today before driving home.

Do you get any migraine symptoms? I began to get them with peri and had no clue they were related to my hormones. I was craving sweets daily, having to nap, becoming dizzy and breathless when I walked and then started to get sparks and the headaches as time went on.

@whoTFismadelaine I dont get any migraine symptoms or headaches, although I did go through a spell of dizziness which was put down to vertigo but that symptom has left me!

@StolenTeapots congrats on your new baby. I had a bar of chocolate & jellies.

Ive just had all bloods done & everything came back normal.

Its so frustrating as Im trying to eat right & move but its like one step forward to steps back!!

This happens to me when I don’t get enough sleep for several nights. I don’t have the answer - the only thing that helps is several nights of good sleep. It is to do with hormones I think - certain hunger hormones rise when you don’t get enough sleep, although I don’t know why said hormones lead to intense cravings for carbs/sugar rather than chickpeas! I just can’t feel satisfied when my body goes like this.

i don’t have any suggestions im afraid, other than trying to extend you sleep at the weekend, but I know that isn’t always possible.

Depleted adrenal glands? Another joy of menopause and fluctuating hormones and our endocrine system trying to rebalance itself.

I'm the same and haven't found a solution yet.

Have you actually seen your blood test results or did your surgery tell you they were normal? I was feeling very similar to you recently, exhaustion, sugar cravings, dizziness, and was told by my GP that my results were normal/borderline. When I checked my NHS app, my ferritin was extremely under range and serum iron low.

I had an iron infusion a couple of weeks ago and the sugar cravings have gone and I no longer fall asleep on the sofa after work. It’s been life changing.

@PlainJaneSuperbrainthe2nd Im sure the lack of sleep is playing a huge part in it. Ive no problem falling asleep its the waking in the middle of the night. Tried nytol but it cause restless legs.

@15minutesaday not familiar with this but Im going to do a bit of research.

@Iheartmysmart I havent seen results, doc just called and said everything was “normal”
I have had low ferritin in the past due to heavy periods but Im not getting them as often now but could well be contributing to how I am feeling.

Thanks for your replies. Peri menopause seems to be a huge variety of symptoms.

@Iheartmysmart unfortunately Im not in NHS system but I might ask surgery for a copy of results as they could be normal but on the lower end.