Common challenges of having both ADHD and diabetes

A closer look at the difficulties having both ADHD and diabetes can pose, such as planning meals, monitoring blood sugar and avoiding burnout.

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Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Medically reviewed by Alexandra Cristina Cowell Clinical Support

Reading time: 2 min

Uploaded on: January 23, 2026

ADHD and diabetes both require daily management. Put them together, and the challenges can multiply. Below are some of the most common difficulties people face when living with both conditions.

An infographic titled “Common challenges of having both ADHD and diabetes” featuring five numbered categories: Blood sugar monitoring, impulsive eating, difficulty meal planning, time blindness, and burnout and overwhelm. Each category includes specific examples of how ADHD symptoms interfere with diabetes management.

Blood sugar monitoring

Checking your glucose levels regularly is a vital part of diabetes care. But if you’re living with ADHD, distractions and forgetfulness can make it harder to stay consistent. Missing checks regularly can mean inaccurate blood sugar trends, which can lead to unexpected highs or lows.

Impulsive eating

Impulsivity is a common symptom associated with ADHD. This can show up as grabbing sugary snacks, eating without testing glucose levels first, or forgetting insulin. Over time, these habits can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and make type 1 harder to manage.[1][2]

Difficulty meal planning

Living with ADHD can often make it harder to stay organised and think ahead - which makes meal planning harder. Without preparation, it’s easy to rely on fast food or forget carb counts, which makes your blood sugar control less predictable.

Time blindness

People with ADHD often experience “time blindness” - losing track of time or underestimating how long tasks take. In diabetes care, that can mean missing doses, eating late, or skipping meals. These small slips can have a big impact on blood sugar stability.

Burnout and overwhelm

Managing diabetes is a constant task, and ADHD can amplify the mental load. This can lead to diabetes burnout - feeling drained, avoiding care tasks, and struggling with motivation.[3] On top of this, many people with ADHD don’t get enough sleep or sleep at regular times. This can affect how the body handles sugar, making blood glucose harder to control.[4] Studies show ADHD is also linked with higher rates of depression in people with type 1 diabetes.[5]

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References:

  1. Ai, Y., et al. (2022). The relationship between diabetes mellitus and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10.
  2. Garcia-Argibay, M., et al. (2023). The association between type 2 diabetes and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and population-based sibling study. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 147, p.105076.
  3. Kontoangelos, K., et al. (2022). Burnout Related to Diabetes Mellitus: A Critical Analysis. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 18(1).
  4. Tsereteli, N., et al. (2021). Impact of insufficient sleep on dysregulated blood glucose control under mes, et al. (2025). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Are Common and Associated with Worse Glycemic Control in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(10), pp.3606–3606.
  5. Yanli Zhang-James, et al. (2025). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Are Common and Associated with Worse Glycemic Control in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(10), pp.3606–3606.
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Reading time: 2 min

Uploaded on: January 23, 2026

Dr Daniel
Medically reviewed by Alexandra Cristina Cowell Clinical Support Registered with GMC (00001) January 23, 2026 Meet Alexandra Cristina Cowell
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Written by Focused Content Team
Last updated on May 05, 2026
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