For people with diabetes, managing the disease can involve testing their blood glucose levels, taking medication, meal planning and cooking healthy food, getting regular exercise and physician appointments. Experts say the stress of the time and effort involved in self-care can lead to what is commonly known as diabetes burnout.
When a person with diabetes becomes stressed, anxious or depressed due to the challenges in managing his disease, he is experiencing diabetes distress. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes distress researchers reported that in any 18-month span, 33 to 50 percent of people with diabetes will experience diabetes distress. This statistic is troublesome because diabetes distress leads to poor emotional health, physical health and health outcomes.
Glucose levels and diabetes distress seem to negatively play on each other, as higher glucose readings increase the incidence of distress, while higher distress can lead to increased glucose levels. As a result, a person may decide he can’t do anything about his diabetes (burnout), so he gives up trying to manage it (distress).
While it’s not guaranteed that every person living with diabetes will experience burnout, it is very common.
Diabetes burnout and distress can occur in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, so it’s important to watch for signs in yourself or your loved one living with diabetes. In an article on burnout from non-profit organization Beyond Type 1, burnout is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
- Feeling sad, angry, frustrated or overwhelmed by your diabetes
- Feeling controlled by the disease
- Feeling isolated, or like nobody understands what you’re going through
- Feeling a lack of motivation to manage your diabetes
The organization recommends managing realistic expectations; making small, sustainable changes to improve self-care; and seeking support to prevent and/or overcome diabetes burnout. It is important to be open and honest about your feelings and communicate with family and health care providers are the best ways to stay on track.
Whether you’re starting to suspect diabetes burnout or experiencing full-blown distress, it’s time to ask for help!
Meeting with your primary care provider can help you re-focus, regain perspective and help you make a plan to get back on track and be successful in your diabetes self-management before it has a serious impact on your health.