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Diabetes distress is what some diabetics feel when they are extremely overwhelmed by the relentlessness of diabetes. This can eventually pave the way for a diabetes burnout.
The manner in which you react to situations and the emotions you feel vary for different individuals. You may feel a sense of frustration, guilt, and sadness or be extremely worried. Sometimes you may experience all these emotions and more, over a course of time.
Feeling this way about your condition is quite understandable, and it is a natural condition for anyone who has been diagnosed with this long-term, chronic health condition. Acquainting yourself with some of the signs can help you to begin managing these feelings.
Scores of diabetics feel like this many a time; however, it is extremely essential to seek help.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes Distress
When it comes to diabetes, there is no right or wrong way to feel; however, there are certain signs that things are getting out of your control. It can be quite helpful to be aware of these. Moreover, you may consider talking to your family members or friends about them, too.
- A sense of anger towards the condition along with feelings of frustration with regard to the demands of successfully managing the condition.
- Worrisome thoughts about not taking optimum care of your diabetes but lacking the motivation to change
- Skipping appointments with your doctor or missing out on your blood glucose monitoring
- Making unhealthy food choices on a regular basis
- Feeling lonely and isolated
Diabetes Distress and Depression
Diabetes distress should not be confused with depression. The former is when an individual feels overwhelmed, defeated, or frustrated by the condition. These feelings may come and go. Moreover, it does not mean that you feel the same way when it comes to other parts of your life.
That said, diabetes distress could turn into depression if you harbour these feelings for extended periods, without the possibility of them vanishing.
How Common is Diabetes Distress?
Diabetes distress is, in fact, quite common. It is a completely natural reaction to manage this chronic disease all day, every day.
It does not matter what type of diabetes you have. Anyone can experience diabetes distress, and scores of diabetics feel it more than once. It is slightly more common in those who take insulin shots.
The most common reason for experiencing diabetes distress is an extreme worry with regard to the disease’s complications that may arrive in the future or anxious thoughts when the management of the condition goes off track.
What is Diabetes Burnout?
Experiencing burnout because of diabetes can vary immensely among individuals. That said, it could mean that you cease taking care of yourself when it comes to the condition. For some, it may mean skipping insulin doses or not taking medications on time. Some may describe it as hitting a wall or a feeling of giving up.
Going through diabetes distress for an extended period can lead to diabetes burnout; hence, it is extremely crucial for you to recognise the signs and get access to the right type of support when you need it the most. Communicating your feelings with your healthcare team is the first step in combatting diabetes distress and burnout.
Ways to Deal with Diabetes Distress and Burnout
If you are going through diabetes distress, it is extremely important to remember that it happens to an umpteen number of individuals and that you should not blame yourself. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that is hard to manage, and no one has an ideal or perfect relationship with it.
You must also remember that your blood sugar levels are merely a number. They are not a true reflection of who you are or how much effort you have put into managing this chronic disease on a particular day or during a specific week.
To Sum It All Up
Diabetes distress and diabetes burnout are common fallouts of diabetes, which is a chronic metabolic disease that needs rigorous management. Managing diabetes day in and day out can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed, along with a sense of frustration, guilt, and sadness. Diabetes distress must not be confused with depression. A common reason for developing diabetes distress is extreme worry about the disease’s complications or a sense of frustration when symptoms get out of control. Going through diabetes distress for a long period can lead to diabetes burnout, wherein you may skip your insulin doses, refrain from taking your medications on time, or do not meet your doctor.
