Diabetes burnout is a term used to describe the emotional and mental exhaustion that can, and often does, result from the constant demands of living with diabetes. People with diabetes have to manage their blood sugar levels, think about their food and exercise, monitor their symptoms regularly and deal with symptoms that get in the way of all the other things in life. They may be dealing with lack of sleep, and a lot of worry. Carers of diabetics (like me, until my daughter got old enough to do a lot of it herself) can definitely identify with burn out. When diabetes seems to take over every aspect of your life, you want it to take a holiday. But it never does.

When people experience the overwhelm of burnout they can feel hopeless about managing their diabetes. They might stop doing some of the boring, routine (but very necessary) tasks that need doing when you have diabetes (like blood testing, or changing a pump cannula regularly). On the other hand, some people might find themselves avoiding certain situations (even fun events like meals or trips to the pool) because of the extra hassle that managing diabetes entails. Burnout can make you feel guilty or ashamed about the way you manage diabetes, as well as angry and powerless.

I know from experience it’s important to acknowledge these feelings and seek help if you feel any of those things. It’s inevitable that the big changes that diabetes brings can feel just too much at times. Talking about it helps, whether that be to friends, family or diabetes professionals. I sometimes have the odd rant on an online forum for parents of diabetics- they other members are understanding, empathetic and had some really good tips.

I’m a big believer in the idea that “It’s better out than in!” Writing about Scarlett’s burnout in my new novel Sugar, Sugar helped me express some of my anger and frustration, with the knowledge that readers might identify with her journey, and it might help them recognise the huge impact that type 1 has on families.