When Diabetes Burnout Hits: A T1D Mom’s Experience

If you are a mom raising a child with Type 1 Diabetes, there is a feeling you may eventually run into that no one really prepares you for.

It’s called burnout.

Not the kind that comes from a busy week or a stressful season.
This is the kind that builds slowly over time from never fully turning your brain off.

Diabetes is always there.

There are numbers to check.
Food to count.
Low blood sugars to treat.
High blood sugars to correct.
Supplies to reorder.
Appointments to attend.
Alarms in the middle of the night.

And even when everything is going well, part of your mind is always calculating.

Over time, that constant mental load can leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained.

Burnout does not mean you are doing something wrong.
It often means you have been carrying a very heavy responsibility for a very long time.

What Burnout Can Look Like

Burnout shows up differently for every parent, but here are a few common experiences.

1. Nighttime Exhaustion

You’ve been waking up for nights in a row because of blood sugar alarms.

Low alerts.
High alerts.
Sensor alerts.

At first you jump up right away. But after weeks or months of broken sleep, your body starts to feel completely depleted.

You may start to dread the alarms, even though you know they matter.

2. Decision Fatigue

Managing diabetes means making hundreds of small decisions every day.

How many carbs are in this meal?
Should I pre-bolus?
Will they be active later?
What if they drop during practice?

At some point your brain may feel like it simply cannot process one more diabetes decision.

3. Feeling Like Diabetes Is Always in the Room

You might be at a birthday party, a hockey game, or even on vacation.

But part of your mind is still watching numbers.

You’re checking the phone.
Scanning for symptoms.
Calculating snacks or insulin.

Even during joyful moments, diabetes can feel like an uninvited guest that never leaves.

The Truth Many T1D Moms Need to Hear

Burnout is extremely common for parents of kids with Type 1 Diabetes.

It does not mean you are a bad parent.

It means you are a parent who has been doing something incredibly demanding with very little rest.

The emotional load of diabetes is real.

And you deserve support too.

Small Ways Moms Begin to Recover From Burnout

While diabetes itself doesn’t disappear, the way we carry it can change.

Many moms begin to feel lighter when they:

• connect with other parents who truly understand
• share the diabetes load with another adult when possible
• give themselves permission to not be perfect
• take intentional moments to step away and refill their emotional energy

Sometimes what helps the most is simply being in a room where you do not have to explain anything.

Where everyone already understands the alarms, the carb counting, and the constant mental math.

A Place for Moms to Breathe Again

If you’re feeling the weight of diabetes burnout, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why I created the T1D Mom Retreat — a space designed specifically for moms raising kids with Type 1 Diabetes.

It’s a chance to:

• connect with other moms who get it
• step away from the daily mental load for a little while
• share experiences, stories, and encouragement
• refill your emotional tank

👉 Canmore Recalibrate Retreat for T1D moms

Because while diabetes may always be part of the story, you were never meant to carry it alone. 💙

September 2, 2025

Doing Diabetes Different: Finding Joy and Reducing Stress

This summer has been one of the most challenging yet when it comes to managing diabetes. My son had a seizure at Disney, a traumatic experience that shook me to my core and reminded me just how unpredictable life with Type 1 can be.

On top of that, my daughter has struggled since going back to injections after using her pump. Her numbers haven’t been great, and it’s been a stressful adjustment for all of us.

Through it all, I’ve been reminded of something important: we can choose how we respond. My daughter has decided she is willing to try something new, and that mindset has been inspiring. I’ve reached out to our clinic about trying Omnipod and looping to help make her diabetes management smoother. Change isn’t always easy, but it opens the door to solutions we might not have considered before.

Starting today September 1st, I’m embracing a renewed mindset. This isn’t about perfection, its about intentionally creating space for joy, reducing stress, and focusing on what matters most: our family, our health, and our energy. Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. With patience, planning, and a willingness to try something different, things eventually turn around.

That constant mental load has made me rethink what I want from my work life. I’m feeling genuinely excited about a new opportunity that allows me to travel more and earn income from home. The idea of flexibility, freedom, and being able to show up fully for my family and my health is incredibly energizing. I wont quit nursing but am looking forward to being casual again.

“Doing diabetes different” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a commitment to approach each day with curiosity, creativity, and compassion for ourselves and our kids. It’s about celebrating the wins, learning from the challenges, and remembering that even after tough seasons, brighter days are ahead.

This September, we’re stepping forward with hope, determination, and a little more joy in our journey with diabetes.

5 Ways to Bring More Joy and Reduce Stress

Celebrate Small Wins – Even a day of your kiddo remembering to bolus, a full night sleep, knowing that someone from school is helping to care for your child. Every little win adds up.
Try Something New – Whether it’s a new device, app, or routine, be open to experimenting. Doing the same thing over and over if it is not working is so frustrating. New strategies can reduce stress and improve control. Or bring back something that had worked before. For us we used to be diligent with looking at Clarity. I plan to bring back my scheduled time once a week to analyze.
Simplify Where You Can – Focus on the essentials, not perfection. Making similar meals week to week, decluttering your house. An organized cabinet of diabetes supplies brings me joy! Little things can bring joy!
Traveling – Travel creates joy by opening our minds to new experiences, cultures, and perspectives. It breaks the routine of daily life and replaces it with adventure, discovery, and connection. Whether it’s tasting new foods, meeting people from different backgrounds, or simply witnessing the beauty of a new landscape, travel sparks a sense of wonder and appreciation. I am planning a lot more travel through my new travel club. If you want to check it out you can take a peak HERE and get savings for 2 nights at a hotel.
Plan for Support – Reach out to your clinic, join community groups, or lean on friends/family. Having a support system reduces pressure and gives you space to breathe. (Our next monthly meet up is September 30, 2025…Click HERE to join…hope you can come!)

💡 Takeaway: Diabetes will always have its challenges, but how we respond is a choice. By trying new strategies, celebrating wins, and creating space for joy, we can transform stress into empowerment—and approach each day with hope.

January 14, 2025July 15, 2025

Rewriting My Diabetes Story

Part 1 The Beginning

By Lana Smid

When we first faced diabetes in our family, it felt like being hit by a truck. I cried daily for weeks, overwhelmed by the fear, uncertainty, and endless decisions that came with managing this new reality. The grief of losing the life we knew and the anxiety about what lay ahead felt impossible to navigate.

Diagnosis

My son was diagnosed at 7 years old in October 2018

My daughter was diagnosed at 7 years later the next year in December 2019

Their story will be for another day….this is MY story as their mom.

As a mom to two children with Type 1 Diabetes, the weight of caregiving has consumed me. My mental and physical health took a back seat as I prioritized their needs above my own. But after years of running on empty, it became clear: I couldn’t continue this way. My stress levels skyrocketed, and I hit rock bottom back in 2022 when I went on a 10-month stress leave following a series of traumatic diabetes-related events, including a seizure and an accidental insulin overdose.

The day of the accidental overdose (putting the amount of carbs into the unit section of her pump) was when I went off work and started to rewrite my story. I knew something had to change. I no longer wanted to live in a feeling of anxiety, stress and overwhelm.

It wasn’t a quick fix or an overnight transformation—it was a journey of small, intentional changes that allowed me to go from a mom hiding in her room crying to a calmer, more balanced version of myself. It started with acknowledging that my health and well-being mattered too. It has been steps forward and then steps backwards.

The Transformation

The first step was reclaiming my mental health. I booked an appointment with my family doctor and a psychologist. My doctor asked me what to do I do for fun…I had no answer. My psychologist asked what I do for exercise…my answer was nothing. So I decided to start. I set up a workout space in the garage and it was my time to get myself out of my funk. I started getting together with a friend instead of isolating myself.

I began incorporating daily exercise into my routine, not just for physical fitness but as a way to manage my anxiety. Movement became my therapy, a way to recharge and I would always feel better the days I exercised. Gradually, I started to feel stronger, both physically and emotionally.

I started taking a cortisol lowering drink called Happy Juice. Targeting my gut with strain specific probiotics clinically proven to lower stress, improve mood and many other benefits. I drank it daily for about a year!

Soon after I went on stress leave we had our first diabetes family camp. If you are in Canada registration is opened soon for this summer….find more info here for D-Camp! While I was embarrassed to share about our struggles it did help. It helped my kids to be at the dining table and see all these other kids doing their carb counting and insulin injections. During that camp I had signed up for zip lining.

It was a humbling experience because of the weight I had gained I physically struggled to climb up the stairs and pull myself up to the platform. But I did it and for that I am thankful. I was so scared to jump but did it and screamed the whole way. Sometimes we need to give ourselves a bit of a push to start building momentum.

Fear had been a big trigger for me. Fear of low blood sugars. Fear of complications. During counselling this was something that we worked on a lot. With my PTSD diagnosis we did a lot of EMDR therapy. My affirmation I tell myself is: “I am safe. My kids are safe”

I worked on finding balance and also acceptance. I realized that while diabetes would always be a part of our lives, it didn’t have to define every moment. I began setting boundaries, asking for help, and creating a support network. This wasn’t easy at first, but it was essential. By leaning on others, I learned that I wasn’t alone—and that it was okay to need support. Having diabetes in our lives is now a part of us. I might as well learn what I can so that we live the live we always wanted…just a bit differently.

What’s Next?

This blog is the first in a 3 part series. Today I talked about the “Beginning”. Come back next week for part 2: The Middle! And if you’re ready to take the next step in your own journey, connect with me on Instagram for tips, updates, and inspiration. Let’s create a future where we thrive, not just survive. 💙

Lana Smid