Cart is emptyDiabetes Distress and Diabetes Burnout represent ongoing emotional and mental challenges in the face of a condition that requires continuous monitoring of blood sugars, food and drink, exercise and other life stye challenges. Diabetes is debilitating, managing it is mentally and emotionally exhausting. Diabetes is a lifelong condition. Diabetes Distress and Diabetes Burnout manifest differently for each Diabetic. But we also need to consider the distress and burnout affecting caregivers helping and supporting a Diabetic.
Caregivers interact with the Diabetic daily and are impacted by the Diabetic’s needs, mood, and emotions. In most cases, the caregiver is a family member or partner who almost invariably has no medical or professional caregiver background. Diabetic Distress is unfortunately a part of the care giver’s experience when they are closely involved with a Diabetic. A professional caregiver can detach from a patient after the appointment.
Type 1 Diabetes is the most common form of the condition in adolescents and teenagers. What happens in childhood grows with the child into adulthood and becomes part of the way they manage their response to their condition.
Diabetes Distress is the negative emotional experience of living with and managing diabetes.[1]
Diabetes Distress isn’t the same as depression. Diabetes Distress is when a person feels frustrated, defeated or overwhelmed by diabetes. These feelings can come and go. And it doesn’t mean that you have these feelings about other parts of your life. [2]
But Diabetes Distress can turn into depression if you have these feelings for a while and they aren’t going away. If you think you might be depressed, we have more information and support about depression to help you. You’re not alone in this. [3]
Diabetes Burnout is the feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion due to the demands of living with, and managing diabetes. Diabetes is a condition requiring a person to engage in strict self-management, and an extensive medicinal regime.
I have experienced Burnout on several occasions over the past few years. I share how I have learned and enjoyed Journaling as a means of describing my relationship to the world and my disorder. We take a deeper dive into Journaling as a tool to support and help with life in general, but Diabetes specifically.
I hope you enjoy and find this book useful.
[1] Louise Morales-Brown, “What to Know About Diabetes Burnout,” (2022).
[2] Diabetes UK, “What Is Diabetes Distress and Burnout?,” (2024).
[3] Ibid.
