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Type One Diabetes and loneliness

Licy231098

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

I am finding it difficult to connect with other people at the moment on account of Diabetic burnout. Has anyone else struggled with this?

I only have one friend and they don’t really understand most of the time.
 
Hi @Licy231098

Diabetic burnout is unfortunately a very common topic on these forums and it's something that all too many T1s (and other diabetic types) go through.

All I can say is that this is a safe place to have a vent about your diabetes (and anything else) and get some moral support. Maybe that will make it easier to talk to your non diabetic friends about non diabetic stuff if you can discuss the diabetes here?

And as for the burnout itself -

As a long term T1 (53 years) I've now come to accept that I'm stuck with it but I still get occasions when I don't feel motivated, though less so than in the past. When I have bad days (or weeks, or months) I just try to put them behind me and look towards controlling my levels today and tomorrow.
In many ways the tech helps. as it's now much easier to keep track of levels, though I guess in other ways it can sometimes make the situation seem more overwhelming. (My teens were pre glucometer and I just maintained blissful ignorance of my high glucose levels)

Once more, welcome.
 

Thank you for the swift response Ellie.
It’s just hard feeling as though I’m saddling my non-diabetic friends and relatives with my condition when I know they can’t control it.
 
Fortunately, I am a loner so loneliness is something I enjoy and seek out. I can totally relate to what you say re talking about diabetes to nondiabetics (including family). That's another reason participating in these forums is good.
 
you're not constantly in a state of hypoglycemic coma around other people, are you? I guess you don't even complain to them about your diabetes every time you see each other. How can your diabetic burnout affect them? I think they don't even know about it. Or do you want to talk about your diabetes with non-diabetics? It is strange to expect that they can fully understand this
 
Hello and welcome @Licy231098

Please do not feel like you are saddling your friends and family with your condition. Human beings are very complex and all of us have issues from time to time- some caused by our choices but many not. My three children all have medical issues which define them as disabled but all are wonderful human beings who make my life fuller and give me a lot of joy as well as worry.

My guess would be that you don't realise how much you add to their lives by just being you.

I'm a type 2 but I can empathise with your feelings of burnout and as @EllieM said this is a safe place for venting and receiving support and encouragement . Take care of yourself!
 
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