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What you should know about diabetes burnout

Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPAuthored by Victoria RawOriginally published 3 Jun 2025

Managing diabetes is a full-time job. It involves a continuous cycle of carb counting, blood sugar monitoring, medicine management and proactive planning. Like many challenges in life, the constant need to monitor this health condition can lead to burnout if you don't take steps to recognise, address, and prevent it.

In this article:

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What is diabetes burnout?

Diabetes burnout shares many of the same effects as burnout caused by other life stressors - such as working beyond your physical or emotional limits.

It is a response to prolonged stress, regardless of its source. When it comes to diabetes, burnout can stem from the relentless demands of managing the condition day in and day out.

Debbie Grayson, Pharmacist and Nutritional Therapist, Practice With Confidence, Greater Manchester, UK explains that burnout can make you feel fed up, overwhelmed and disconnected.

She says: "Burnout can cause you to ignore your diabetes care entirely - such as skipping insulin, avoiding blood glucose checks, missing medical appointments, or giving up on eating healthily."

"Unlike other long-term conditions, living with diabetes often requires multiple decisions every day just to stay well. The pressure can become unsustainable, particularly when progress feels slow, unpredictable or invisible."

Grayson warns that this stress can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope. As a result, you may begin neglecting the essential tasks needed to keep your health in check.

What are the symptoms of diabetes burnout?

Burnout comes with a range of emotional and physical symptoms, as well as changes in behaviour.

These include:

  • Emotional symptoms - feeling trapped, helpless, or constantly overwhelmed. You may feel emotionally disconnected from others, weighed down by persistent worry, negativity, or a lack of purpose. Activities you once enjoyed might no longer bring satisfaction, and you may become more irritable or short-tempered, even with those closest to you.

  • Physical symptoms - persistent fatigue and trouble sleeping. You might experience frequent headaches, muscle or joint pain, and a loss of appetite. Symptoms can also include nausea, digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, chest pain, and panic attacks.

  • Behavioural symptoms - finding it hard to concentrate or complete everyday tasks, leading to reduced productivity. Burnout can also cause you to withdraw from others, avoid responsibilities, and become socially isolated.

In the case of diabetes, these symptoms can be even more serious - especially if they lead you to stop monitoring and managing your condition.

Grayson explains that if this situation happens, you may show signs of poorly managed blood sugar levels. This can result in both hypo and hyperglycaemia, often swinging between the two extremes.

Poor blood sugar management can also raise your chance of diabetes-related complications - such as infections, vision problems, increased urinary tract infections (UTIs), and neurological issues, including pins and needles.

"Emotional symptoms include feelings of powerlessness, anger, overwhelm, frustration and also isolation from support systems," says Grayson. "You may have anxiety, guilt or shame - feeling as though you are failing or not trying hard enough.

"This is a sign your current strategy might not be working and that further support is needed."

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Is diabetes burnout common?

According to Diabetes UK, 1 in 4 people with type 1 diabetes, and 1 in 5 people with type 2 diabetes have experienced high levels of diabetes distress since their diagnosis.

Grayson says: "People with type 1 diabetes will be using insulin, where more consistent control and monitoring can be a huge source of stress."

She highlights the following groups as being vulnerable to burnout:

  • Teenagers.

  • Young adults transitioning to independent care.

  • People with poor glycaemic control or long-term complications.

  • Those with limited support systems or mental health challenges.

  • Caregivers or parents of children with diabetes.

Can diabetes burnout be prevented?

A range of support options are available to help you manage - or recover from - diabetes burnout.

Grayson says this includes psychological support - in particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling tailored to long-term illness.

She adds: "There are also peer support groups, working with a diabetes specialist and reframing expectations to help reduce the pressure."

What helps with diabetes burnout?

Although it may not always be preventable, there are measures that can help lower your chance of experiencing diabetes burnout.

Grayson offers practical advice to help you do just that:

  • Regularly review your care plan with your diabetes team to make sure it still fits your life and needs.

  • Build in mental health check-ins, not just blood sugar reviews.

  • Set realistic, flexible goals - don’t aim for perfection.

  • Use technology to automate or simplify tasks where possible.

  • Schedule breaks from diabetes focus - such as designating certain days to relax your mental load, without compromising safety.

  • Prioritise sleep, stress management, and social support - these all improve emotional resilience.

"Know the signs of burnout early, and don't be afraid to ask for help from a healthcare professional," she says. "Diabetes management is hard work - and recognising that it's okay to feel overwhelmed is the first step towards regaining balance."

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

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