Diabetes Burnout

“Sometimes it’s just so exhausting having to be ‘on’ all the time.”

These words were expressed to me recently, and I completely resonated. I’ve said these exact words, in some variation or other, countless times in my years with T1D.

Diabetes burnout: it’s for real, my friends.

Have you been there?

I have.

This photo was posted days after my first cortisone shot when I had experienced non-stop highs and was at my tipping point.

This disease can be so, incredibly exhausting at times.

Having to monitor blood sugars multiple times a day, count carbs, figure out insulin doses, adjust basal rates, adjust insulin sensitivity factors, administer insulin correction doses, treat low blood sugars, decode meals and calculate how they’ll affect your blood sugars, etc., etc., takes its toll.

This disease does not take a holiday; it requires us to be on 24/7. It demands constant attention.

But you know what, it’s OK to turn off every once in awhile.

It’s OK to put T1D on the back burner from time to time.

It’s OK to sometimes say no to this disease.

It’s OK to have that bowl of ice cream if you want.

It’s OK to forgo a workout in favour of Netflix vegging if you need.

It’s OK to not check your blood sugars every second of every day if you’re feeling it’s taking over.

Perfection is not attainable for the general population, so why do we constantly feel we need to be perfect with this disease on our back?

We don’t.

We just need to do the best we can as much as we can.

So if today is a day you need a break, that’s OK.

Tomorrow’s another day.

Today mental health. Tomorrow diabetes.

1 thought on “Diabetes Burnout”

  1. Pingback: HbA1c: It's just a number - Katie Bartel, Registered Dietitian

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