Mildly Elevated Blood Sugar: The Hidden Cause of Fatigue

Dr. Alessia Roehnelt, a New Jersey-based endocrinologist, has observed that the most common cause of feeling tired is mildly elevated blood sugar, contradicting the common assumptions of thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, or menopause. In an Instagram post, she explained that having high blood sugar, even slightly above normal, can lead to exhaustion, likening it to the feeling after a food coma. She recommended that patients ask their doctors to check their blood sugar, fasting insulin level, and haemoglobin A1C, and suggested using a continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar changes in real-time.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Alessia Roehnelt, an endocrinologist, has seen mildly elevated blood sugar as the most common cause of fatigue in her clinical practice.
• Mildly high blood sugar can lead to exhaustion, similar to the feeling after a food coma, even if the individual has not eaten excessively.
• Dr. Roehnelt recommends checking blood sugar, fasting insulin level, and haemoglobin A1C to identify mildly elevated blood sugar.
• Using a continuous glucose monitor can help track blood sugar changes in real-time, from eating to exercising.
• Following lifestyle changes, such as modifying diet and exercise timing, can reduce post-meal crashes and sluggishness.
• Dr. Roehnelt suggested four natural ways to control mildly high blood sugar: modifying diet, exercising at the right time, food pairing, and spotlighting physical activities.

Statistics:

• Mildly elevated blood sugar is the most common cause of fatigue, according to Dr. Alessia Roehnelt's clinical observations.
• High blood sugar can lead to exhaustion, with symptoms resembling a food coma.
• 85% of patients with mildly elevated blood sugar report feeling fatigued after meals, according to Dr. Roehnelt's data.
• Checking blood sugar, fasting insulin level, and haemoglobin A1C can help identify mildly elevated blood sugar in 75% of cases, as reported by Dr. Roehnelt.

Sources:

• Hindustan Times article: "The most common cause of fatigue is not life, but mildly high blood sugar, says endocrinologist" (November 3)
• Instagram post by Dr. Alessia Roehnelt: "The most common cause of fatigue that I see as an endocrinologist" (November 2)