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Diabetes burnout is a result of the never-ending, often overwhelming, constantly demanding and frustrating burden of diabetes self-care. People with diabetes burnout know that reasonable care is important for their health, but they just don't have the motivation to keep it up. It is one of the most common emotional challenges for people with diabetes and most people with diabetes have periods of time where they feel burnt-out.
Diabetes burn-out is not necessarily the same as feeling depressed or being in denial. It has more to do with feeling unmotivated, unable or unwilling to change, just plain tired of the endless attention and effort required by diabetes, or frustrated with the inevitable blood sugar fluctuations despite painstaking vigilance.
How to get back on track? First, remember that motivation is fueled by success, but success depends upon having realistic, practical and achievable goals. Ask yourself what you need to do to get back on track. What barriers do you have to overcome? Where could you start? Define one thing you could do to start to improve your situation. Start with one of your easier challenges so that you have a greater chance of success.
Second, are there other people who could help you? Support at home, at work, and at play from family and friends will increase your chances of success. Decide what kind of support you need and then tell the people who are involved with your care what you need. Don't forget your healthcare team. They are your partners in setting goals, overcoming barriers, and solving problems. Go see them more often, and arrange for more contact between visits, for example, through telephone calls or faxing blood glucose records.
Third, understand and tolerate that strong negative feelings about diabetes are normal and that these feelings are nothing to be ashamed of or guilty about. Many people speak of "accepting" diabetes. This does not mean liking diabetes, it means tolerating the hatred of diabetes enough to still take care of yourself. Talking with family, friends, health professionals or others with diabetes who understand these feelings can be helpful in learning how to cope with them in more constructive ways.
Fourth, keep your eye on the rewards of good care and what worked well, not the failures and the consequences. Fears about complications from diabetes may motivate you for a short period of time, but in the long run most people either rationalize consequences away or become paralyzed by fear. Rather, focus on the rewards of better care whatever they may be (quicker responses on the basketball court, fewer arguments at home, more productivity at work, improved concentration, for example) and remember what has worked well before and try it again!
Finally, engage in problem solving. First, try to concretely and specifically define the problem. Second, become aware of when, how and where the problem occurs. Third, once the problem is defined then consider potential solutions. Consider changing your behavior or the environment to make it easier to deal with the problem. For example, if you are having trouble finding time to exercise, consider buying a treadmill for home rather than expecting you will find time to go to the gym. Keep in mind what you can learn from previous successes with a similar problem. Fourth, make life easier for yourself by avoiding the problem, if possible. This assumption goes directly against the great American myth that "will-power" is the answer to life troubles and, in fact, assumes that self-discipline fails for almost everyone when exposed to enough temptation, lack of support or stress. For example, if you love to eat, you should not find yourself in front of the all-you-can-eat buffet and naively expect that self-discipline will help control your overeating.
See also:
How do I get support from family and friends?
Are depression and diabetes linked?
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