In this powerful listener story, Meghan shares her unfiltered experience of Type 1 diabetes burnout — the slow, soul-sapping kind that sneaks in when you're too tired to fight it anymore. From perfect numbers to full-on rebellion, forgotten boluses, CGM breakdowns and a breakup with a man who thought T1D was like Slimming World (yep, he really said that)… Meghan takes us on a raw, emotional, and often hilarious journey back to herself.
Whether you're in the thick of burnout or clawing your way out, this episode is your sign that you're not alone, and that healing can start in the weirdest of ways.
What we cover:
The truth behind Type 1 diabetes burnout (and how it creeps in)
How perfectionism can backfire in diabetes management
Relationship challenges and diabetes misunderstandings
Hypo episodes and unexpected animal interventions
Rebuilding confidence and care, one step at a time
Why this podcast exists: so you never feel alone in your T1D journey
Through laughter and tears, Meghan's story reminds us that we’re not alone in our struggles, and sometimes it takes a little chaos to find our way back to balance. Whether you're in the thick of it or on the mend, this episode is a testament to the strength of community and the unique ways we find support.
💬 Have a story of your own to share?
We’d love to hear from you!
📩 Email: wearet1dpodcast@gmail.com
🌍 Website: www.wearet1d.com
📸 Instagram: @t1d_mike & @t1d_jack
🎧 New Episodes Every Sunday
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast app to help more people find We Are T1D.
#Type1Diabetes #T1DLife #DiabetesPodcast #WeAreT1D #T1DCommunity #DiabetesSupport #Burnout
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Welcome back to We Are T1D. It's that time again.
It's listen to stories, roll theJingle.
It's time for a giggle. I.
Think it's only right I read this one, Jack, because you've
done the last one. Yeah, we're actually taking
turns this this go around. Yeah, right.
(00:25):
So it's from Megan. Way.
Hi, Megan. And Harry?
How could I forget Harry? Of course, Harry.
Right, I'm just going to go straight into this one.
You guys, you guys. Hi Megan.
Here Lil wave an emoji. I'm not famous or anything, but
honestly Mike and Jack make me feel like I am.
(00:47):
I'm just your average type 1 diabetic girl with a slightly
above average sexy cat called Harry.
He insists I add that quick thing before I dive in.
I love the podcast. You 2 are like my diabetic Big
Brothers from different mothers.You give me this weird little
(01:09):
lifeline to feeling understood and just doing it.
You know life with T1D without screaming.
Or maybe sometimes I do. So don't be all.
Yeah, anyway, I'm finally over something big and I'm ready to
share. It was a bit like I'm writing
the first chapter of a very chaotic novel, but I missed the
(01:30):
listener stories and figured whynot?
Yes. So for years I prided myself on
being the good diabetic carb counting.
So basically my love language, my HBA one CA solid brag every
time I saw my endo. Like go on then tell me I'm a
legend as I had the attitude of Jack.
(01:52):
But slowly, and I mean slowly, burnout crept in.
Not an explosion, more like a slow simmer.
A background sigh that turned into a full blown no fuck off.
Suddenly every CGM change felt like a mediaeval torture.
Every injection felt like I was stabbing my own will to live.
(02:14):
I started accidentally to get into Bolas for the second slice
of pizza or third. One day won't hurt, I told
myself, but one day does. It turns into a week, then a
mum. I even stopped listening to the
podcast because deep down I knewMike and Jack would somehow
sense I was spiralling and try to prep, talk me through the
(02:35):
mic, but I just didn't want to hear it.
I am me. I do me.
Yeah, like the kind of rebellious teenager, no offence,
Ashley. And Oh my fucking God my graph
look like shit and that shit started bleeding into every part
of my life. In brackets it says do not have
visuals mic but yet that shit graph and control affected
(03:01):
everything especially my relationship.
My boyfriend of three years, lovely guy but when it came to
type 1 diabetes he had the emotional rate range of a
crouton. Can't you just cut out carbs?
Have you tried being better? I'm like, this isn't Slimming
World, this is type 1 diabetes, not a bloody salad bar, you
(03:23):
twat. I just slip.
I feel that. I really do feel that.
It's the twat and it just froze that.
Boom. Yeah.
But it's them comments like whenyou're feeling like that and
it's, oh, can't you just do thatand can't you just do that?
Totally get there. Just fuck off.
Yeah, right. Safe to say the relationship
(03:44):
went the same way as my stable blood sugars, straight off a
Cliff in brackets relationship. Not him by the way.
Right, Sorry, I need to stop laughing.
This ain't this ain't a laughingmatter.
Come on Megan, why are you doingthis in between?
So there I was, burnt out single, living off Deliveroo,
(04:06):
Uber Eats and regret my CGM. You eat into early retirement.
My wardrobe, 90% trackies and oversized hoodies.
Honestly, if Adele had walked into my flat, she would have
cried with me. She should brand novels.
You're fucking brilliant. Sorry this.
Is this is so well written? I know, such a serious thing,
(04:27):
but this is so well written. But then oh God, it's in
capitals. Here we go.
In a hurry. My cat, previously known for
licking his own bum, trying to make kittens and pretending I
don't exist. But in the middle of my diabetic
chaos, Harry did a full 180. It started small, a nudge here,
(04:50):
a stair there. But one night I woke up in the
middle of a hypo, totally drenched in sweat, arms like
Jelly, head doing that spinny thing.
I tried reaching for my left shoes but felt like I was moving
through gravy. I felt so heavy.
And that's when Harry went full Mission Impossible and jumped on
my chest, claws out, straight into my boobs.
(05:12):
It hurt, but like, thank God it did, because the pain gave me
enough oomph to grab my emergency juice under my pillow,
which I forgot about. Yes, it lives under my pillow.
No judgement, guys. That's actually a really smart
place to put it. Yeah.
I'm not actually judging you, I'm actually applauding that.
Yeah. As I started coming round, Harry
(05:33):
just sat beside me, purring likea tiny furry engine.
He didn't leave my side until mysugar settled.
That night, something shifted. Harry wasn't just a cat anymore.
He was like my untrained but totally committed diabetes
psychic, my feline pancreas assistant.
(05:53):
OK, that's dramatic, but still, he showed up the next day.
I took one wobbly step out of burnout, then another.
It wasn't easy. I still have moments where I
want to Chuck my CGM out the window and live an ignorant high
blood glucose bliss. But Harry, he's always there,
purring, head butting and judging me.
(06:16):
My ex and I aren't getting back together, but I did start
choosing myself again. My health, my happiness.
And yes, I still have type 1 diabetes, that hasn't changed.
But I'm not in burnout anymore. And I've realised support
doesn't always look like anotherhuman.
Sometimes it's whiskery, food obsessed legend who saves your
life with a stab to the chest. Cheers Harry.
(06:38):
Oh, and yes, I'm back to listening to the podcast now.
I see you guys climbing the charts.
Congrats, honestly. So yeah, that's my story.
Bit chaotic, bit emotional, bit how did a cat fix my diabetes
spiral? But it's mine and I'm really
proud of where I've landed. Megan and obviously Harry and
little paw prints. Wow.
(07:04):
Honestly Megan, get into writingor a start.
Yeah. If you need something to
distract you, I honestly suggestwriting.
But wow, I really felt that I I liked that you added in humour
into it, but I also didn't. Yeah, that only that that last.
I feel like I've just been through all of your emotions
(07:26):
with you. Yeah.
But I've really took that in. Yeah, I got goosebumps.
And I can the first little bit, I can sort of, I sort of relate
to the first bit. Were you saying you're so good,
like you said? Go on, tell me I'm a legend with
the Jack attitude. Like do you remember a few
months ago when I was I was, I've had enough of being good.
(07:47):
I can't do it. It's just I can't do it no more.
It's long. I want to be normal.
And yeah, that really got me. That really did get to me.
Honestly, Megan, I am so, so glad you are back on your feet.
Yeah, so am I. So happy for you, happy that
you're back listening to the podcast, obviously, because
(08:08):
we've got one of our listeners back.
Yeah, definitely. They all started from emojis.
We'll never forget you. Yeah, and wow, Harry as well.
What's it's done it before. I've mentioned it on the podcast
that he when I'm hypo, he's beennear me and he gives you a
little nudge and like it's, it'scrazy how animals can respond.
(08:32):
And as I always say, my cat doesnot give a shit.
I think you're too far gone, Mike.
But Nah, that's amazing. Hopefully he didn't scar you.
Nah. Oh wow, I'm quite speechless.
It's. Yeah, I am.
Honestly, I'm still trying to process the whole thing like I
(08:54):
have that. Honestly, like I said, I've
really went through the emotionswith you there, Megan.
I really felt that. And like I said, I am honestly,
genuinely very happy that you are.
Also very sad sad that you went through that alone for so long
as well. Yeah.
Seriously. On the other hand, I yeah, I
know you saying like go on, thisis the two different
(09:15):
perspectives. Sorry, but also, yeah, like
reach out seriously some. I know it's probably the hardest
part to say you're struggling. It is in anything you do in
life, diabetes, whatever, work to say you're struggling in
something that is the hardest thing because you feel like
you're letting yourself down. If you're struggling at
something, you you don't feel like you're doing it right, but
(09:38):
it's a very normal process. That's what you need to
remember. And I am so grateful that Harry
dumped and scratched your tits, because that was the slap around
the face you needed. Yeah.
I understand why you don't. You feel like I've done my
(09:58):
diabetes good for so long, let me do it shit for for this time.
Which is fine. Everyone goes through their own
process of how they do stuff, soI find that totally relatable.
But yeah, I'm just proud you've come out the other side.
That's it. That is it.
Yeah. And for anybody else going
through burnout, there is like the end of the tunnel.
You are fine. It will be fine, it will get
(10:21):
better, and honestly, if you feel like you're going through
it alone, message us, get in touch.
Yeah, seriously. I totally get the side of
shutting the world out and big fuck you to everyone.
I want to deal with this on my own but I've done that so many
times in my life and it never helps.
And I went through something quite big not too long ago.
(10:46):
I was in a very bad place and ittook me a long time, but I spoke
out and I did reach out and I spoke to people and I honestly
felt better for it. And I honestly felt like I had
the support I needed once other people knew what I was going
through. Yeah.
We're not. We're not at school anymore.
People don't take the piss. No, and you might think you're
(11:09):
the only person in the world going through that problem at
that stage in life, but I can guarantee you there is someone
out there and more people than you ever will know.
It's even been in your position and I'll probably go through
something similar at the same time.
Yeah, and again, the whole reason we've done this podcast
is so no one ever, ever feels alone.
Exactly. I think that's a lovely way to
(11:31):
end it this week. So yeah, guys, thanks for
listening and same time, same place as Jack always says.
Exactly that same time, same place, everyone stay amazing.
Just for you. Just for you, Harry.
I know you can relate, my brother.
(11:54):
Thank you for listening, guys. And Megan, thank you for sharing
that because I know that that's what you call personal.
Yeah, that's a big step. And if you want to get anything
off your chest and you do have any stories you want to share
with us, please get in touch on the e-mail link is in the
description of the episode, so you can just click on it and it
will take you directly there. And also you can go via the
(12:18):
website which is www.wearet1d.co.uk.
Dot com close enough Jack, you can tell you don't do the
website. Yessorry.com.
Yes, we are T1D dot everyone. Jacks already left.
Welcome back to We Are T1D. It's that time again.
It's listen to stories, roll theJingle.
It's time for a giggle. I.
Think it's only right I read this one, Jack, because you've
done the last one. Yeah, we're actually taking
turns this this go around. Yeah, right.
(00:25):
So it's from Megan. Way.
Hi, Megan. And Harry?
How could I forget Harry? Of course, Harry.
Right, I'm just going to go straight into this one.
You guys, you guys. Hi Megan.
Here Lil wave an emoji. I'm not famous or anything, but
honestly Mike and Jack make me feel like I am.
(00:47):
I'm just your average type 1 diabetic girl with a slightly
above average sexy cat called Harry.
He insists I add that quick thing before I dive in.
I love the podcast. You 2 are like my diabetic Big
Brothers from different mothers.You give me this weird little
(01:09):
lifeline to feeling understood and just doing it.
You know life with T1D without screaming.
Or maybe sometimes I do. So don't be all.
Yeah, anyway, I'm finally over something big and I'm ready to
share. It was a bit like I'm writing
the first chapter of a very chaotic novel, but I missed the
(01:30):
listener stories and figured whynot?
Yes. So for years I prided myself on
being the good diabetic carb counting.
So basically my love language, my HBA one CA solid brag every
time I saw my endo. Like go on then tell me I'm a
legend as I had the attitude of Jack.
(01:52):
But slowly, and I mean slowly, burnout crept in.
Not an explosion, more like a slow simmer.
A background sigh that turned into a full blown no fuck off.
Suddenly every CGM change felt like a mediaeval torture.
Every injection felt like I was stabbing my own will to live.
(02:14):
I started accidentally to get into Bolas for the second slice
of pizza or third. One day won't hurt, I told
myself, but one day does. It turns into a week, then a
mum. I even stopped listening to the
podcast because deep down I knewMike and Jack would somehow
sense I was spiralling and try to prep, talk me through the
(02:35):
mic, but I just didn't want to hear it.
I am me. I do me.
Yeah, like the kind of rebellious teenager, no offence,
Ashley. And Oh my fucking God my graph
look like shit and that shit started bleeding into every part
of my life. In brackets it says do not have
visuals mic but yet that shit graph and control affected
(03:01):
everything especially my relationship.
My boyfriend of three years, lovely guy but when it came to
type 1 diabetes he had the emotional rate range of a
crouton. Can't you just cut out carbs?
Have you tried being better? I'm like, this isn't Slimming
World, this is type 1 diabetes, not a bloody salad bar, you
(03:23):
twat. I just slip.
I feel that. I really do feel that.
It's the twat and it just froze that.
Boom. Yeah.
But it's them comments like whenyou're feeling like that and
it's, oh, can't you just do thatand can't you just do that?
Totally get there. Just fuck off.
Yeah, right. Safe to say the relationship
(03:44):
went the same way as my stable blood sugars, straight off a
Cliff in brackets relationship. Not him by the way.
Right, Sorry, I need to stop laughing.
This ain't this ain't a laughingmatter.
Come on Megan, why are you doingthis in between?
So there I was, burnt out single, living off Deliveroo,
(04:06):
Uber Eats and regret my CGM. You eat into early retirement.
My wardrobe, 90% trackies and oversized hoodies.
Honestly, if Adele had walked into my flat, she would have
cried with me. She should brand novels.
You're fucking brilliant. Sorry this.
Is this is so well written? I know, such a serious thing,
(04:27):
but this is so well written. But then oh God, it's in
capitals. Here we go.
In a hurry. My cat, previously known for
licking his own bum, trying to make kittens and pretending I
don't exist. But in the middle of my diabetic
chaos, Harry did a full 180. It started small, a nudge here,
(04:50):
a stair there. But one night I woke up in the
middle of a hypo, totally drenched in sweat, arms like
Jelly, head doing that spinny thing.
I tried reaching for my left shoes but felt like I was moving
through gravy. I felt so heavy.
And that's when Harry went full Mission Impossible and jumped on
my chest, claws out, straight into my boobs.
(05:12):
It hurt, but like, thank God it did, because the pain gave me
enough oomph to grab my emergency juice under my pillow,
which I forgot about. Yes, it lives under my pillow.
No judgement, guys. That's actually a really smart
place to put it. Yeah.
I'm not actually judging you, I'm actually applauding that.
Yeah. As I started coming round, Harry
(05:33):
just sat beside me, purring likea tiny furry engine.
He didn't leave my side until mysugar settled.
That night, something shifted. Harry wasn't just a cat anymore.
He was like my untrained but totally committed diabetes
psychic, my feline pancreas assistant.
(05:53):
OK, that's dramatic, but still, he showed up the next day.
I took one wobbly step out of burnout, then another.
It wasn't easy. I still have moments where I
want to Chuck my CGM out the window and live an ignorant high
blood glucose bliss. But Harry, he's always there,
purring, head butting and judging me.
(06:16):
My ex and I aren't getting back together, but I did start
choosing myself again. My health, my happiness.
And yes, I still have type 1 diabetes, that hasn't changed.
But I'm not in burnout anymore. And I've realised support
doesn't always look like anotherhuman.
Sometimes it's whiskery, food obsessed legend who saves your
life with a stab to the chest. Cheers Harry.
(06:38):
Oh, and yes, I'm back to listening to the podcast now.
I see you guys climbing the charts.
Congrats, honestly. So yeah, that's my story.
Bit chaotic, bit emotional, bit how did a cat fix my diabetes
spiral? But it's mine and I'm really
proud of where I've landed. Megan and obviously Harry and
little paw prints. Wow.
(07:04):
Honestly Megan, get into writingor a start.
Yeah. If you need something to
distract you, I honestly suggestwriting.
But wow, I really felt that I I liked that you added in humour
into it, but I also didn't. Yeah, that only that that last.
I feel like I've just been through all of your emotions
(07:26):
with you. Yeah.
But I've really took that in. Yeah, I got goosebumps.
And I can the first little bit, I can sort of, I sort of relate
to the first bit. Were you saying you're so good,
like you said? Go on, tell me I'm a legend with
the Jack attitude. Like do you remember a few
months ago when I was I was, I've had enough of being good.
(07:47):
I can't do it. It's just I can't do it no more.
It's long. I want to be normal.
And yeah, that really got me. That really did get to me.
Honestly, Megan, I am so, so glad you are back on your feet.
Yeah, so am I. So happy for you, happy that
you're back listening to the podcast, obviously, because
(08:08):
we've got one of our listeners back.
Yeah, definitely. They all started from emojis.
We'll never forget you. Yeah, and wow, Harry as well.
What's it's done it before. I've mentioned it on the podcast
that he when I'm hypo, he's beennear me and he gives you a
little nudge and like it's, it'scrazy how animals can respond.
(08:32):
And as I always say, my cat doesnot give a shit.
I think you're too far gone, Mike.
But Nah, that's amazing. Hopefully he didn't scar you.
Nah. Oh wow, I'm quite speechless.
It's. Yeah, I am.
Honestly, I'm still trying to process the whole thing like I
(08:54):
have that. Honestly, like I said, I've
really went through the emotionswith you there, Megan.
I really felt that. And like I said, I am honestly,
genuinely very happy that you are.
Also very sad sad that you went through that alone for so long
as well. Yeah.
Seriously. On the other hand, I yeah, I
know you saying like go on, thisis the two different
(09:15):
perspectives. Sorry, but also, yeah, like
reach out seriously some. I know it's probably the hardest
part to say you're struggling. It is in anything you do in
life, diabetes, whatever, work to say you're struggling in
something that is the hardest thing because you feel like
you're letting yourself down. If you're struggling at
something, you you don't feel like you're doing it right, but
(09:38):
it's a very normal process. That's what you need to
remember. And I am so grateful that Harry
dumped and scratched your tits, because that was the slap around
the face you needed. Yeah.
I understand why you don't. You feel like I've done my
(09:58):
diabetes good for so long, let me do it shit for for this time.
Which is fine. Everyone goes through their own
process of how they do stuff, soI find that totally relatable.
But yeah, I'm just proud you've come out the other side.
That's it. That is it.
Yeah. And for anybody else going
through burnout, there is like the end of the tunnel.
You are fine. It will be fine, it will get
(10:21):
better, and honestly, if you feel like you're going through
it alone, message us, get in touch.
Yeah, seriously. I totally get the side of
shutting the world out and big fuck you to everyone.
I want to deal with this on my own but I've done that so many
times in my life and it never helps.
And I went through something quite big not too long ago.
(10:46):
I was in a very bad place and ittook me a long time, but I spoke
out and I did reach out and I spoke to people and I honestly
felt better for it. And I honestly felt like I had
the support I needed once other people knew what I was going
through. Yeah.
We're not. We're not at school anymore.
People don't take the piss. No, and you might think you're
(11:09):
the only person in the world going through that problem at
that stage in life, but I can guarantee you there is someone
out there and more people than you ever will know.
It's even been in your position and I'll probably go through
something similar at the same time.
Yeah, and again, the whole reason we've done this podcast
is so no one ever, ever feels alone.
Exactly. I think that's a lovely way to
(11:31):
end it this week. So yeah, guys, thanks for
listening and same time, same place as Jack always says.
Exactly that same time, same place, everyone stay amazing.
Just for you. Just for you, Harry.
I know you can relate, my brother.
(11:54):
Thank you for listening, guys. And Megan, thank you for sharing
that because I know that that's what you call personal.
Yeah, that's a big step. And if you want to get anything
off your chest and you do have any stories you want to share
with us, please get in touch on the e-mail link is in the
description of the episode, so you can just click on it and it
will take you directly there. And also you can go via the
(12:18):
website which is www.wearet1d.co.uk.
Dot com close enough Jack, you can tell you don't do the
website. Yessorry.com.
Yes, we are T1D dot everyone. Jacks already left.
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