Fatigue Management in Diabetes Care
Summary
Fatigue in diabetes represents a pervasive and multifactorial challenge that undermines metabolic control, daily functioning and overall well-being. It arises from a complex interplay of physiological factors—such as fluctuating blood glucose levels, sleep disturbances and comorbid pain—and psychological contributors including mood disturbances, diabetes distress and cognitive load. Persistent fatigue not only diminishes quality of life but also impairs adherence to self-management tasks, thereby exacerbating glycaemic variability and long-term complications. Effective management requires a combination of tailored interventions: optimisation of pharmacological regimens to stabilise glucose excursions; structured sleep hygiene and pain management strategies; psychological support through resilience building and cognitive behavioural therapy; and digital self-help tools that facilitate patient engagement. Recent advances emphasise the importance of biopsychosocial models and patient-centred care pathways that integrate behavioural, psychosocial and technological approaches to mitigate fatigue and enhance functional capacity in diverse populations.
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Fatigue Management in Diabetes Care publication trend
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Technical terms
Fatigue: A subjective state of physical and mental exhaustion that is disproportionate to activity and not relieved by rest.
Glycaemic control: The regulation of blood glucose levels within a target range to reduce the risk of complications.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): A structured psychological intervention aiming to modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
Resilience: The capacity to adapt and recover in the face of stressors, contributing to improved psychological and clinical outcomes.
Diabetes distress: Emotional burden and worries specific to living with and managing diabetes.
Self-management: The daily activities undertaken by individuals to control their condition, including medication adherence, diet and monitoring.
References
- Feasibility and user experience of the unguided web-based self-help app ‘MyDiaMate’ aimed to prevent and reduce psychological distress and fatigue in adults with diabetes. Internet Interventions (2021).
- A structural equation model in adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes: exploring the interplay of psychological states and diabetes outcomes, and the mediating effect of resilience. Acta Diabetologica (2022).
- Resilience-based Islamic program as a promising intervention on diabetes fatigue and health-related quality of life. PLOS ONE (2022).
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