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If you took a survey of people with Type 1 diabetes and asked them to tell you what’s frustrating about living with diabetes, many would answer that the disease’s unpredictability drives them crazy. \u00a0What worked perfectly yesterday doesn’t work today. \u00a0But sometimes it’s emotional struggles that lead to poor diabetes management. \u00a0Understanding why\u00a0a person isn\u2019t checking blood glucose or taking their medication is the an important step, and what motivates a person to do better<\/a> depends on the reason for the lapse in diabetes management.<\/p>\n Here are five reasons why people with diabetes might not be managing well:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Faced with eminent threat, turtles retract into their shells. Porcupines roll up into a ball. We don\u2019t have those options, but we can mentally retreat from the threat of a chronic illness that impacts everything we do.<\/p>\n Much like the five stages of grief<\/a> that occur when a loved one passes, people with diabetes can experience a mourning process (and all of the steps involved) of a life without diabetes. Denial, anger, disbelief\u2026 all of these feelings can manifest in lack of diabetes care.<\/p>\n This is common in teenagers who are navigating their way in the world and attempting to assert their independence. The \u201cYou\u2019re not the boss of me!\u201d attitude is usually coupled with the feeling that while complications may happen to others, it won\u2019t ever happen to me.<\/p>\n As a former diabetes teen rebel, I wanted to make my own decisions regarding my care and push the boundaries of what was healthy. My family’s questions about my blood sugar readings didn\u2019t feel supportive anymore; they felt intrusive and prying. I have no doubt that my parents felt frustrated with me, just as I felt frustrated with my diabetes\u2026<\/p>\n \n People with diabetes can be judged based on their numbers, whether it\u2019s from their medical team, their loved ones, or sadly, themselves. We tend to be our harshest critics. It\u2019s defeating to see high blood sugars day after day despite your best efforts and the feelings of shame can shutter us into inaction. If you don\u2019t check your blood sugar, you believe you won\u2019t feel bad or ashamed at the number on the meter. One self-shameful day can turn into two, then a week, then a month of not checking.<\/p>\n Work, family, kids, activities, appointments, life\u2026 all can be stressful without diabetes. \u00a0Add an unpredictable chronic illness into the mix and it can be paralyzing. The grind of everyday living can reduce people without diabetes to make unhealthy lifestyle choices, so it\u2019s not surprising that our unhealthy choice du jour may be to let our diabetes management hang out on the back burner.<\/p>\n The financial burden of medication and supplies adds to the stress of daily living with diabetes. In the United States, a single vial of fast-acting analogue insulin without insurance can cost $150. With significant out of pocket costs and deductibles that need to be met annually, even those with \u201cgood insurance\u201d are forced to make unpalatable choices about daily diabetes care.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a year or fifty since diagnosis, the sobering thought of never getting a respite from diabetes occasionally arises and festers. It\u2019s difficult to wrap your head around the concept of being vigilant every day for the rest of your life to stay healthy, especially when your best efforts may not yield perfect results.<\/p>\n The \u201cI don\u2019t care anymore!\u201d declaration may not be spoken aloud, but it manifests in the subtle lack of action. It\u2019s not uncommon for all of us to have moments or days when one more lancet prick or needle pierce seems just too much to bear. A day of ignoring a high blood sugar or forgetting to take medication before a meal can easily turn into two days, a week, a month, and sadly, even longer.<\/p>\n For those experiencing denial, stress, shame, or burnout, additional support may be needed that reaches beyond family and friends. Behavioral medical professionals with diabetes experience can help traverse these complex issues with you. If the stress is due to financial restraints,\u00a0there are resources available to help lessen the burden<\/a>, including\u00a0low-cost\/free clinics<\/a>\u00a0and cost-savings programs for medication.<\/p>\n Two highly recommended books about diabetes burnout can assist you in understanding the psyche of a person with diabetes:\u00a0Diabetes Burnout: What To Do When You Can\u2019t Take It Anymore<\/a>, by Dr. William H. Polonsky and\u00a0Dealing with Diabetes Burnout: How to Recharge and Get Back on Track When You Feel Frustrated and Overwhelmed Living with Diabetes<\/a>\u00a0by Ginger Vieira. Read them yourself and offer these books to your loved one.<\/p>\n Thanks to Dr. Nicole Bereolos, PhD, MPH, CDE for her insight and expert advice on this important topic. (Dr. Berelos has not just clinical experience; she also lives with Type 1 diabetes.)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you took a survey of people with Type 1 diabetes and asked them to tell you what’s frustrating about living with diabetes, many would answer that the disease’s unpredictability drives them crazy. What worked perfectly yesterday doesn’t work today. But sometimes it’s emotional struggles that lead to poor diabetes management. Understanding why a person isn\u2019t checking blood glucose or taking their medication is the an important step, and what motivates a person to do better depends on the reason for the lapse in diabetes management. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":42119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1460],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. The Mourning Process<\/em><\/h2>\n
2. Independence and Immortality<\/h2>\n
3. Shame<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
4. Stress<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
5. Burnout<\/h2>\n