CURRENT

TYPE 1 DIABETES (T1D) is defined asa self-managed, chronic auto-
immune disease that occurs when the insulin-producing cells of
the pancreas are destroyed by the body’s immune system. Conse-
quently, those living with T1D rely on an external source of insulin

for life. The day-to-day management of this disease is exceedingly
complicated, impacting every aspect of a diabetic’s life. Individ-
uals must vigilantly balance a number of factors that impact their
blood sugar levels including insulin and carbohydrate intake,
physical activity, hormones and stress.

Itis little wonder that type 1 diabetics often lose momentum
when managing their disease. This phenomenon is commonly
referred to as “diabetes burnout” and is characterized by “the
emotional distress that arises from living with diabetes” [2]. For
some individuals, burnout is experienced as a reaction to the
tedious and repetitive management practices of T1D, including
daily blood sugar tests and insulin adjustments. For others, burn-
out takes the form of generalized feelings of anxiety or frustration
that result from constant blood sugar fluctuations and attempts
to alleviate these. Reactions to this are equally as varied; some
individuals may purposely alter their insulin dosages or test their
sugars infrequently, while others may experience unrelenting high
levels of stress and fatigue. The resulting poor blood sugar control
contributes to the development of long-term complications. As dia-
betes affects all areas of life, burnout may also negatively impact an
individual’s personal relationships, socialization, education, career
or economic status, as well as one’s spirituality or life goals [3].

Asan initial step for my master’s thesis, I conducted a series of
exploratory, semi-structured interviews with twelve young adult
and adult type 1 diabetics to further comprehend the implications
of burnout, and to challenge my own assumptions about T1D asa

A Secret Society
for Type 1 Diabetics

LUCINDA MCGROARTY

diabetic myself. During this process, I discovered that anumber of
the interviewees regularly reach out to the T1D community as a way
to prevent or combat feelings of frustration, anxiety and loneliness.
These participants maintained that type 1 diabetics share an auto-
matic bond simply because they understand the challenges of living
with this disease. During my own personal experience of living
with T1D, I have gone through various phases of burnout, but atno
point had I considered reaching out to this community for support.

In furthering my research, the obvious choice was to adopt
a heuristic approach, one that “...explicitly acknowledges the
involvement of the researcher to the extent that the lived experi-
ence of the researcher becomes the main focus of the research” [1].
With this in mind, I continued my exploration by immersing
myself in the T1D community. I joined various organizations,
including Young and 71, Let’s Talk T1D (JDRF Toronto) and Con-
nected In Motion. Additionally, I reached out to numerous online
communities including Glu and Beyond Type 1.

As months passed, I began to recognize the true value of the T1D
community. I realized that a type 1 diabetic who is highly engaged
in the community is motivated, inspired and empowered by what
it has to offer. This individual is more positively and actively in
control of his or her physical and mental health, contributing to an
increased resilience towards diabetes burnout. This in turn builds
momentum, which is crucial to wellbeing and overall happiness.

Increased resilience towards burnout is achieved through knowl-
edge exchange, a growing sense of belonging and psychological
support. A lack of information contributes to feelings of helpless-
ness and anxiety, but as community members share knowledge
with one another, they build the confidence and resourcefulness
required to overcome these sentiments. Moreover, upon diagnosis,