Diabetes burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that people with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) may experience from the constant demands of managing diabetes. It is common and often misunderstood. Here’s what people with diabetes should know:
What Is Diabetes Burnout?
It involves feelings of frustration and hopelessness, and in some cases, a move away from daily acts of self-management. People may stop monitoring blood sugar, administering insulin, or following dietary and exercise plans.
Why Does It Happen?
There are several reasons that diabetes burnout happens, all of which have to do with the nature of life with diabetes. Managing diabetes requires ongoing vigilance (checking blood sugar, reading labels, counting carbs, etc.) and the pressure to manage it well, along with the fear of complications, can lead to stress and fatigue.
Diabetes management is also a long-term effort, and it can sometimes feel like all our hard work isn’t paying off, especially when blood sugar levels fluctuate for reasons beyond our control.
Last, having diabetes can feel isolating, especially when we think that others don’t fully understand the daily burden.
What are the signs of diabetes burnout?
- Increased frustration, irritability, or lack of motivation about diabetes care.
- Skipping blood sugar checks, medication, or insulin doses.
- Feeling overwhelmed or anxious about diabetes tasks.
- Thinking “why bother?” or feeling like nothing you do will improve your health.
How to Cope with Diabetes Burnout
- Acknowledge the Feelings: The very demanding nature of diabetes means that burnout is understandable, and you are not alone in feeling this way.
- Seek Support: Talk to your healthcare professional, a therapist, or a diabetes educator about how you’re feeling. Support groups or online communities can help you connect with others going through similar challenges.
- Take a Break (Within Reason): It’s okay to give yourself a mental break. Ask for help from family or friends to share some of the burden, or use tools (apps or devices) to automate some diabetes tasks.
- Focus on Small Wins: Set small, achievable goals to regain a sense of accomplishment.
- Professional Help: If burnout persists, counseling or working with a diabetes care team may help address deeper emotional or psychological issues.
Preventing Burnout
- Balanced Approach: Aim for the targets that your doctor has set for you but try to avoid perfectionism. Understand that blood sugar fluctuations happen and not everything is within your control. There are in fact over 40 factors that influence blood sugar– there’s a list of them here.
- Build a Routine That Fits Your Life: Adapt your diabetes care to your lifestyle so it feels less like a burden– for example, by working with a diabetes educator to create an enjoyable meal plan.
- Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself, especially when things don’t go perfectly. Remind yourself that you’re doing your best.
- Communicate: Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about burnout. They can adjust your treatment plan, offer new strategies, or connect you with mental health resources. Let loved ones know what you’re feeling, so they can provide support or take some pressure off.
Diabetes burnout is a real phenomenon and a common experience, one that’s important to address to maintain both mental and physical health. Seeking support and adjusting our expectations (where needed) can both make a big difference.
The medical information on Diabetes – What To Know’s website is provided as an information resource only. The content is not in any way intended to be nor should you rely on it as a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, advice and treatment.
