The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the experience of diabetes burnout among people with diabetes (PWD).
Methods
A qualitative descriptive analysis of 35 blog narratives published in 21 diabetes blogs from the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland, written by PWD, provided the basis for this study’s definition of diabetes burnout. Data management (Nvivo 11 Pro) and analysis included 3 phases: immersion, reduction, and interpretation (kappa = 0.91).
Results
Findings included 5 main themes that described diabetes burnout: (1) burnout is a “detachment” from diabetes care, (2) the “demanding life” of diabetes leads to burnout, (3) struggling with “perfect” numbers adds to burnout, (4) “life events” are catalysts to burnout, and (5) overcoming burnout is like “climbing out of a difficult hole.”
Conclusions
Analysis of blog narratives provided unique insights into the concept of diabetes burnout. Five themes were identified that ranged from diabetes care detachment to difficulties in overcoming diabetes. These data provide an increased understanding of diabetes burnout and the factors that may contribute to diabetes burnout. To advance the science of diabetes burnout and to improve person-centered diabetes care and quality of life for PWD, further research is needed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HooverJW.Patient burnout and other reason for non-compliance. Diabetes Educ. 1983;9(3):41-43.
2.
PolonskyWH.Diabetes Burnout: What to Do When You Can’t Take It Anymore. Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association; 1999.
3.
AndersonBJ.Can we break down barriers to excellent diabetes healthcare for teenagers with diabetes?Diabetes Manage. 2012;2(6):471-473.
4.
BernardKDPeyrotMHoltRIG. Psychosocial support for people with diabetes: past, present and future. Diabet Med. 2012;29(11):1358-1360.
VieiraG.Dealing With Diabetes Burnout: How to Recharge and Get Back on Track When You Feel Frustrated and Overwhelmed Living With Diabetes. New York, NY: Demos Health; 2014.
7.
NashJ.Understanding the psychological impact of diabetes and the role of clinical psychology. J Diabetes Nurs. 2014;18(4):137-141.
8.
FosburyJ.Changing diabetes management with psychotherapy. J Diabetes Nurs. 2015;19:305-308.
9.
BeverlyEAIvanovNNCourtABFredricksTR.Is diabetes distress on your radar screen?J Fam Pract. 2017;66(1):9-14.
10.
PolonskyWH.Emotional and quality of life aspects of diabetes management. Curr Diab Rep. 2002;2(2):153-159.
11.
LowesLEddyDChannonSet al. The experience of living with type 1 diabetes and attending clinic from the perception of children, adolescents and cares: analysis of qualitative data from the DEPICTED study. J Pediatr Nurs. 2015;30(1):54-56.
12.
Young-HymanDde GrootMHill-BriggsFGonzalezJSHoodKPeyrotM.Psychosocial care for people with diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(12):2126-2140.
13.
PolonskyWH.Understanding and treating patients with diabetes burnout. In: AndersonBJRubinRR eds. Practical Psychology for Diabetes Clinicians. Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association; 1996:183-192.
14.
FondaSJSalkindSJWalkerMSChellappaMEhrhardtNVigerskyRA.Heterogeneity of responses to real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RTCGM) in patients with type 2 diabetes and its implications for application. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(4):786-792.
15.
LeeJH.Understanding and intervention in patients with diabetes burnout. J Korean Diabetes. 2012;13(2):102-104.
16.
LindströmCÅmanJNorbergALForssbergMAnderzén-CarlssonA.“Mission impossible”; the mothering of a child with type 1 diabetes—from the perspective of mothers experiencing burnout. J Pediatr Nurs. 2017;36:149-156.
17.
FisherLGonzalezJSPolonskyWH.The confusing tale of depression and distress in patients with diabetes: a call for greater clarity and precision. Diabet Med. 2014;31(7):764-772.
18.
FisherLHesslerDMPolonskyWHMullanJF.When is diabetes distress clinically meaningful? Establishing cut points for the diabetes distress scale. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(2):259-264.
19.
FisherLGlasgowREMullanJFSkaffMMPolonskyWH.Development of a brief diabetes distress screening instrument. Ann Fam Med. 2008;6(3):246-252.
20.
PolonskyWHFisherLEarlesJet al. Assessing psychosocial distress in diabetes: development of the diabetes distress scale. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(3):626-631.
21.
FisherLHesslerDMPolonskyWHStryckerLMasharaniUPetersA.Diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes: prevalence, incidence and change over time. J Diabetes Complications. 2016;30(6):1123-1128.
22.
FisherLPolonskyWHHesslerDMet al. Understanding the sources of diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes. J Diabetes Complications. 2015;29(4):572-577.
23.
PolonskyWHAndersonBJLohrerPAet al. Assessment of diabetes-related distress. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(6):754-760.
24.
LindströmC1AmanJNorbergAL. Increased prevalence of burnout symptoms in parents of chronically ill children. Acta Paediatr. 2010:99(3):427-432.
25.
LindströmC1AmanJNorbergAL. Parental burnout in relation to sociodemographic, psychosocial and personality factors as well as disease duration and glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Acta Paediatr. 2011;100(7):1011-1017.
26.
MaslachCSchaufeliWBLeiterMP.Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001;52:397-422.
SafaMDArmanZRAkterTBishwajitG.Blog as a medium of freedom of expression. Int J Innov Sci Res. 2014;3(1):1-9.
29.
PrescottJGrayNJSmithFJMcDonaghJE.Blogging as a viable research methodology for young people with arthritis: a qualitative study. J Med Internet Res. 2015;17(3):e61.
30.
WilsonEKennyADickson-SwiftV.Using blogs as a qualitative health research tool a scoping review. Int J Qual Methods. 2015;1-12. doi:10.1177/1609406915618049
31.
JonesMAlonyI.Blogs—the new source of data analysis. Issues in Informing Science & Information Technology Education. 2008;5:433-446.
32.
SandelowskiM.Qualitative analysis: what it is and how to begin. Res Nurs Health. 1995;18(4):371-375.
33.
BerryDM.Internet research: privacy, ethics and alienation: an open source approach. Internet Res. 2004;14(4):323-332.
34.
BarnardKDLloydCEHoltRIG.Psychological burden of diabetes and what it means to people with diabetes. In: BarnardKLloydC eds. Psychology and Diabetes Care: A Practical Guide. London, UK: Springer; 2012:1-23.
35.
PyatakEAFlorindezDWeigensbergMJ.Adherence decision making in the everyday lives of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2013;7:709-718.
