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Home > About Breakthrough T1D UK & our impact > Our research > Research projects > Developing a better understanding of diabetes burnout
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Diabetes burnout is the severe mental exhaustion that comes from the relentless management of T1D. It can be characterised by anxiety or depression, feeling detached or a loss of control. It is strongly associated with poor glucose control, which can then lead to complications.
Rachel said:
Diabetes burnout is something those living with T1D know very well, yet it has received so little attention in academic research. This project aims to fix that by learning about diabetes burnout directly from the T1D community. We aim to understand more about what factors are associated with the experience of diabetes burnout so that better support can be developed to help people earlier on, improving the lives of those who may struggle with their mental health while living with T1D.
The overall aim of this project is to create methods to better support people with T1D.
Rachel will conduct two different types of study in this project. The first is an online survey study, which anyone living with T1D in the UK can take part in. As part of this online survey, participants can sign up to be part of a biomarker study, which is the second part of the project.
People who take part in the biomarker study will be posted a swab test for the inside of their mouth. Biomarkers are measurable molecules found in people’s bodies and can be used by scientists to show signs of health, disease or response to certain treatments.
By measuring these biomarkers, Rachel will be able to see if people at a higher risk of diabetes burnout have similar biomarkers. These could then be used to test for risk of future burnout for people with T1D.
Living with type 1 diabetes is hard work, and everyone is doing their best. Insulin keeps people alive and allows them to live full lives, but managing it is complex and it’s normal to struggle sometimes. Funding research like this will help to create early intervention processes for diabetes burnout, to help prevent it from happening.
The learnings from this study can be used as the basis for future research, to support work to discover more about the biological and psychological mechanisms behind diabetes burnout, and to help to improve quality of life for people with T1D.
Dr Christiana Lekka, of the University of Exeter, is studying how type 1 diabetes (T1D) may affect the overall structure of the pancreas. The end goal of her research is to better understand how T1D can affect the entire organ, rather than just the insulin-producing cells (beta cells).
Dr. Ali Shilleh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, is studying how cell signals are organised inside lab-grown insulin-producing cells. Understanding these signals could help scientists improve future cell replacement therapies for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Dr Rachael Hughson-Gill is a researcher at the University of Lincoln, who is studying how body image issues affect young women with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Dr Gordon Sloan and his team at the University of Sheffield are researching a new method to identify nerve pain (neuropathy) in teens and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
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