What is Diabetes Stigma?
Diabetes stigma includes negative social judgments, stereotypes, and prejudices about diabetes or people living with diabetes. When it results in unfair or prejudicial treatment of a person with diabetes, this is diabetes discrimination.
This form of stigma can come from others, including the media, but it can also be internalized as self-judgment and shame.
It’s a pervasive issue that can affect mental, social, and physical health. However, by shifting the narrative about diabetes and pushing back against harmful stereotypes we can begin addressing it, together.
Sign the Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma
I pledge to contribute proactively to bring an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination by:
By taking this pledge, I am committed, from here on, to creating a more compassionate and respectful world for people with diabetes, free from diabetes stigma and discrimination, and the harms they inflict.
Diabetes Language Matters
The way we talk about diabetes is often stigmatizing and judgmental. It reflects a lack of awareness and consideration, and may express conscious or unconscious bias.
People with diabetes deserve communications that are clear and accurate, respectful, inclusive, and free from judgment and blame. Language is constantly evolving and we can all evolve with it.
