Episode 26: Deep Dive into Diabetes Burnout

Diabetes burnout is a mental state where you just don’t want to deal with it anymore. It looks different for everyone, and everyone manages it differently. I’ve never dealt with the extreme of “not caring” but I have dealt with the little frustrating moments that one could consider “diabetes burnout.”

Related post: What Burnout Looks Like in a Type 1 Diabetic

Diabetes burnout can come from a lot of different thoughts. I can have a thought about my diabetes, something like “Diabetes makes me strong” and then I feel strong or empowered by thinking that thought, and so I do things and create things in my life that prove that diabetes makes me strong. Things like a 5.1% A1c, or even staying consistent with this podcast.

On the other hand, what if I thought something like “Diabetes ruined my life”? That thought would create a different feeling, probably one of despair, depression, overwhelm, or maybe a feeling of being trapped. Maybe it makes you feel like a victim.

The second thought might lead to burnout, while the first wouldn’t.

Tips for Dealing with Diabetes Burnout

1. Set up reminders for yourself to practice self-care.
2. Curate a list of five things that you enjoy doing and that fill you up, and aim to do at least three of them every single day.
3. Do a Thought Download, which just means getting all your thoughts out of your head and onto a piece of paper. When we write down our thoughts, we become aware of them and it’s a lot easier to see for ourselves when a thought we’re thinking is causing problems if it’s written down. Doing this with thoughts about diabetes can be eye-opening especially if you’ve never really taken the time to realize just what your brain is telling you about your diabetes.
4. Remember that comparison is the thief of joy. Others’ blood sugars don’t mean anything about you.
5. Ask yourself some questions: are you drinking water? Have you been outside today? Are you clenching your jaw, or other muscles? Have you stood up from your desk or your chair in the past hour? Have you looked away from your computer screen or your phone in the past twenty minutes? Are you listening to music that winds you up? Have you done something from your list of self-care practices today?
6. Manage your expectations.
7. If you’re sad, acknowledge that it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel any feeling, as long as you don’t make it mean that there’s something wrong with you.
8. We’re all in this together.
9. Follow social media influencers with type 1 diabetes. Listen for when they talk about struggling with burnout.
10. Maybe you just need some sleep and time to recharge.
11. Listen to your body.
12. Identify what burnout looks like for you.
13. Talk to other diabetics and your doctors if you feel alone.
14. Figure out what you need to recharge.