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Do You Have Type 2 Diabetes Burnout?
By Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN
October 28, 2009
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Do You Have Type 2 Diabetes Burnout?
If you're living with type 2 diabetes, you know how frustrating some days can be. Learn to recognize the signs of burnout and when to seek advice and help.
By Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH Print Email
Living with a chronic disease usually means having to monitor it every day. If the disease is type 2 diabetes, you need to constantly be aware of not only your blood glucose (sugar) levels and medication doses, but also what you eat, how much exercise you get, and even how to cope in various situations, such as traveling or if you become ill with the flu. Following a daily management plan is the best way to keep your diabetes in check, but it can take its toll on you emotionally.
Type 2 Diabetes Burnout: Why It Happens
Jenny De Jesus, RN, CDE, a diabetes educator at The Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, says, “Living with diabetes can be challenging. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by diabetes and all that comes with it.”
Burnout means being overwhelmed or exhausted by physical or emotional stresses, perceived or real. Chronic illnesses are very real stressors, both physically and emotionally, so dealing with burnout when you have type 2 diabetes is a distinct possibility.
You may feel at times that sticking with a diabetes care plan is more than you can or want to handle, or get frustrated with monitoring blood glucose or having to watch your diet. Know that these are normal feelings, and that you can take steps to regain a positive outlook.
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Type 2 Diabetes Burnout: Heading It Off
According to the National Diabetes Education Program, you may be able to prevent negative feelings from escalating by finding ways to ease stress. Here are a few suggestions:
Take a few minutes each day to spend time on a hobby you enjoy, meditate, or practice deep breathing. Keep a journal to record not just what you eat and your glucose levels, but also to note how you feel — what bothers you and what makes you feel better. Ask yourself how you can divide your management plan into smaller steps that will make it seem easier to master. Type 2 Diabetes Burnout: Coping Strategies
Unlike a job that’s sent you over the edge or a relationship that just isn’t right for you any longer, type 2 diabetes is with you for the long term. And there may be times when you experience burnout despite all your best efforts. Often the first step is accepting that you may not be able to handle every aspect of diabetes care without some help. Try to figure out which aspects of your diabetes led to your feelings of burnout and get help to address them and restore your quality of life.
Reaching out for support from friends and family is essential to relieve diabetes burnout. “They can help you put things into perspective and get back on track,” says De Jesus.
Randy Pike, a reporter in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, who has had type 2 diabetes for the past 15 years, knows how helpful family can be. “My wife generally notices signs that I need to eat better than I do,” Pike says.
The more your family and friends know and understand about type 2 diabetes, the greater a resource they can be for you. They can attend classes with you or get information through sources like the American Diabetes Association Web site.
Your health care team is another important resource. Doctors, nurses, and dietitians who specialize in diabetes care understand the problems that type 2 diabetes can cause. If you discuss your situation with them, they will be able to offer you insights to better manage whatever is troubling you.
Doctors are also learning to be more aware of diabetes-related stress. By anticipating problems, they may be able to show you how to reduce stress before you reach the burnout stage. And if a member of your medical team brings up the subject with you, be sure to answer honestly. Bottling up stress or denying it exists can make it worse.
Diabetes is something that you have to live with, but how you live with it depends on you, how you care for yourself and, most importantly, whether you seek help when you need it.
Last Updated: 09/30/2009
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Comments (13 comments)
Add your commentI just hop I have a good support and have someone to come and talk about it when i have questions that I have
The best advice I had from a dietician (much to the chagrin of my wife) was to stick to the prescribed diabetic diet as much as humanly possible. BUT, it is allowed and better to "cheat" on an occasional taste of forbidden dessert or a real regular meal once in awhile rather than to break down and binge… Just religiously take your readings and compensate…
This article hit the nail on the head. I try so hard to stick to my routine, checking blood sugar twice a day, then I get a few highs in a row, get discouraged because I'm not doing anything differently, and the routine goes by the wayside. I was diagnosed in 2003 and had 1/2 my thyroid removed at the same time, so it's a compounded battle (as I'm sure it is with most of us). I know exercise is the best thing for me, but sometimes I'm just too tired. BURNOUT is the perfect word to describe how I feel!
Beautiful thoughts…very well said..
l.j.1956 life as a diabetic is very hard and rough many of times. this is especially true when you go out with family for a meal and every family member orders all the best of food and deserts and you order the basic food that has less taste and low carbs along with no sweetner in your tea. i have a lot of roller coaster levels and am up and down at the most near holidays. i can see burn out time coming at these times of the year. i find it helpful if i take some sort of food that i make from the recipe book for low carb diets. makes me feel a little better. but still no real cure for the diabetes blues and the burn outfeeling.
Life is a roller coaster. Accept it and roll with it. The easiest way I know how is to find something silly, fun and ridiculous to do, preferably something safe.
I shout at the trees while walking among them.
I kick a plastic bowl around the kitchen and swear at it.
I throw the ball for our dogs and tell them ALL my woes and problems in a sweet tone - as if I am loving them.
I force myself to smile until I feel ridiculous and can laugh, or my face hurts.
When I am completely alone, I daydream/play act about a day when I will be given a special drink that makes me young (18) again - until I feel really stupid for having these ridiculous fantasies.
I pull faces at myself in the mirror until I want to laugh.
I sing (off key), preferably when I am alone or where no one can hear me, the strangest and silliest songs I know, sometimes making up my own words to bolster my mood (make me feel better).
I immerse myself in something so deeply that I forget about me - like problems, puzzles or computer games that require my full attention, leaving no possible way to think about me or what I feel like.
I realize life is a dying dream and sooner or later I will die, whether from this problem or some other, so I try to take it one day at a time. Maybe it helps because I believe in someone higher than me, namely Jesus Christ and God.
Maybe it works because I try to see myself from someone else's eyes and see this old woman acting like a silly idiot.
Not each of these ideas works every time, but one or more do help, and I will find myself trying more than one some days. I do try to keep looking until I feel better, or can forget for a short time.
About me: 54, married, no children, type 2 diabetes, degenerative vertebrae, fibromyalgia, arthritis, stenosis, bone spurs, 5 recurring herniated discs. My mom died in January this year, after living with us for 22 years. I have all the reason in the world to be depressed and disappointed with life, but most of the time I am not.
Judeline
Think that is what I have…or just mass try to avoid and ignore…went on vacation for five days, totally fell off taking metformin…ate fine, mostly…was diagnosed three months ago,and I am really having a hard time with getting it through my head this is what is wrong…
I am pretty much alone with dealing with it…my husband is a huge support…but I am just kind of spinning in circles.
vancouver481@ yahoo.com
What would really help is a conscious battle plan instead of all this conflicting reports. One says keep your A1C as low as possible, another says the sweet spot is between 7-8, another says it's the meds that cause the problems, check blood 4 times a day, check blood twice a week!! WHAT THE HELL IS THE ANSWER!! 13 years and tired of the battle!!!
Thank you for this information because I was diagnosed last year and I have been feeling this way often. Also, I went on a road trip with my husband in June 2011 and I notice that I have no energy since I came back along with the stress from being a full-time student. How can I get energy having degenerate arthritis as well.
Just punched a wall yesterday. Nothing broken. I guess I'm burn't
Not very helpful to me in the middle of a burnout. The ideas of having friends and family get educated and doing something you like to do every day to reduce stress are great, but how do I dig out of the hole I'm in?
The last statement is suppose to be live alone. I don't cook much, but am willing to learn to cook alot at one time and then freeze so I can have nourish meals during the month. I also work 2 part-time jobs.
I have a few comments and questions to add. I am a diabetice since Feb of 2006. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007. Is there anyone out there that can help to lose the weight and keep it off with these 2 conditions? Cold weather is worse for me. I live in lower Alabama and already have to wear a long sleeve shirt with a sweat jacket to go outside to fight off the weather from the fibromyalgia. Any help would be helpful. On yes, I am 49 female, and live along.