As with most chronic illnesses, it is easy to get to a point of frustration, relapse, or, as it’s most commonly called, burned out. Diabetes is not something that a few pills will cure; it is a battle that is fought every single day. Many companies offer comprehensive medical management services that you can utilize to help manage diabetes and many other chronic illnesses. Avoiding burn out is ideal, but sometimes, there are moments where avoidance is impossible, so knowing the skills needed to cope can help to get you through it successfully.
Acceptance
Being a big girl or boy is often the suggestion, but as with anything, learning to accept things for what they are is important. Taking a moment to admit that your illness can sometimes overtake you is not weakness, but strength. In these moments, it may be necessary to call upon help from your support system to help you through it whether it be a kind word or taking you to your next doctor’s appointment. Many patients note that having someone that they can count on can do much to help them gain the strength needed to power through a burn out.
Self Care
During a burn out, it important to pay attention to your body both physically and emotionally. Doing this will help to keep things in perspective and make sure that the illness does not take over your life. It also will help to reduce further instances of burn out.
Slow Down
Resting is an important part of recuperating and recharging the battery. At times, especially in our fast-paced society, it is easy to think that responsibilities to finances or family come first, but this is not the case. Learning to truly nurture yourself and giving yourself the time to heal will aid in getting through the burn out.
Meditate
Many find that taking a moment to center the mind does a lot to help the body heal the way that it needs to. When the body heals, it can be easier to deal with the emotional backlash that can come along with being burned out. It also has been proven that having a good mental attitude aids in dealing with bouts of illness, which meditation can help with.
Take a Break
Because there are many things that have to be done to manage diabetes, it can be overwhelming. It might be a good idea to talk to a doctor about the benefits and risks of taking a break from things like constantly checking blood sugar levels. For some, this may not be possible, but for those who can, putting the glucose checking machine in the closet and going on a break might be what is needed when feeling overwhelmed.
Read
You might be surprised to learn that diabetes burn out if very common. In fact, there is a book by William Polonsky called Diabetes Burnout. There are also countless blogs and message boards all over the internet of people who suffer from diabetes burn out which could be a source of encouragement to let you know that you are not alone.
Reach Out
Because people are so busy, it is easy for people to forget that you may need help. For this reason, speaking to others who are in your life is important. Also, speaking with others who share the same illness can be helpful since they can share their experience and give helpful tips on managing burn out.
Diabetes burn out is real and can be conquered. Every one of us, well or otherwise, need time to deal with stressful situations. This applies even more to those with diabetes. With time and remembering these tips, burn outs will be few and far between and you can get on with focusing on living.
