Burnout Among Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the experience of diabetes burnout in young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). In addition, aims included participant perspectives of risk and protective factors associated with burnout and ways to balance everyday life with diabetes self-management (DSM). Methods Young adults with T1DM (N = 11) were recruited through social media platforms and modified snowball sampling and interviewed. Informational redundancy was achieved. Qualitative thematic coding and analysis were conducted within and across transcripts. Results Diabetes burnout was described as the willingness to put diabetes and DSM on the “back burner” and let things slide due to exhaustion, frustration, apathy, and the desire to be like everyone else for a while. Risk and protective factors were identified along with strategies to achieve balance of DSM in everyday life. Conclusions This study identified a clear definition of diabetes burnout and acknowledges this concept as distinct and separate from other psychosocial conditions. Health care providers can utilize this information to identify individuals at risk for diabetes burnout and offer more effective support to lessen the overall burden associated with T1DM.