Diabetes is a chronic condition, meaning that it must be managed 24/7 and 365 days a year for those who live with it. If your blood sugar is out of balance, your body will suffer.
The level of detail you must consistently devote to what you eat and drink, and how often, coupled with administering medications and testing your blood can be draining and downright exhausting.
The sense of feeling overwhelmed about managing this condition in particular so meticulously is known as ‘diabetes burnout,’ or diabetes distress, something that affects one in five diabetics according to the American Diabetes Association.
One of our diabetes experts and board-certified endocrinologists, Dr. Lucy Esteve, shared her thoughts on diabetes burnout in a recent article for Health Central.
What is diabetes burnout?
“I often tell my patients that diabetes is a full-time, ‘24/7’ job without paid time off,” says Dr. Esteve. “You must continuously be planning ahead, troubleshooting, and making decisions.”
The burnout can come from the daily management of the disease itself, but can also be triggered by factors like the financial stress of purchasing insulin and medications, or the social ramifications of not being able to eat in the same manner as family and friends.
“Even when you do everything “right,” she explains, “you don’t always get the outcome that you want or expect, leading to further frustration.”
What are some signs of diabetes burnout?
Common signs of diabetes burnout may include:
- Disengagement from or apathy about your diabetes care such as neglecting to test your blood sugars or take insulin shots
- Missing regular appointments with your endocrinologist or other physicians
- Difficulty coping with stress and making rash, unwise food choices that could affect your blood glucose levels
- Feeling overwhelmed, sad, or angry
- Withdrawal from family and friends
What are some ways to help alleviate diabetes burnout?
Dr. Esteve shares that “I aim to eliminate any feelings of guilt that they (patients) may have for not managing their diabetes perfectly.”
She urges those who are experiencing this type of distress to reach out to loved ones first, or their caregivers, to let them know how they’re feeling and to:
- Seek help from your endocrinologist or other medical professionals, such as dieticians, physical therapists, or psychologists
- Find a support group with other diabetics so that you can lean on each other for encouragement
- Speak with your endocrinologist about streamlining your medications and blood testing routine so that it is as easy to manage as possible
- Try to balance other stresses in life, like family or work obligations, with activities or hobbies that bring you personal joy and peace, as a little self care goes a long way!
Finally, remember that you are not alone on this health journey to manage your diabetes. Please reach out to someone you trust, including our team at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology, for help if you are feeling overwhelmed.
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If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology and discover how our diabetes services and other endocrinology therapies can help you lead a full and active life, please contact us at (512) 458-8400 or request an appointment online.
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