Let’s change how we talk about diabetes

What is diabetes stigma?

Diabetes stigma is the negative attitudes and false assumptions people make about those of us living with or at risk of diabetes. It impacts people with all types of diabetes, and arises from misconceptions and misunderstandings of the causes, management and realities of diabetes.

Sadly, the stereotypes and misconceptions about diabetes are often internalised by people living with diabetes - with nearly half of those that completed our survey believing that they are true.

This can lead to feelings of shame - people who experience or internalise stigma are more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, diabetes distress and low self-esteem. 

Your stories of stigma

Why does diabetes stigma matter?

8 in 10 people living with diabetes say they’ve faced negative attitudes because of their diabetes. They experience judgement day in, day out, from all corners of their life - from family and friends, from colleagues or in public, from social media and even in healthcare settings or from other people living with diabetes.  

Stigma means that people with diabetes – whatever type they live with – don’t get the support they need. It means they don’t tell their employers about their diabetes or face unfair treatment when they do. It can make people hide their condition or even miss vital healthcare appointments.  

And it doesn’t just impact mental health. Studies shows that stigma can lead to higher blood sugar levels, lower quality healthcare appointments and delayed access to treatments – a serious risk when you live with any type of diabetes.

How do we tackle stigma?

Diabetes stigma can come from numerous sources and in multiple settings. It may be perpetrated unknowingly through implicit bias, and even with good intentions, but without realisation of the harm that it causes. It can occur as everyday interactions between friends, family, colleagues, teachers, classmates and members of the public. It can happen in institutions such as healthcare settings, educational settings and the workforce. 

Collaboration and collective action is the only way we’ll make progress. Changing deep-set attitudes may not happen overnight but changing how we talk to people living with the condition can start today.  

Why join our Strike Out Stigma campaign?

We’ve been asking our members what change they would like to see.

Whether it’s improving healthcare appointments, tackling discrimination at work, helping loved ones to be supportive allies, or taking on misinformation in the media – we won’t rest until everyone with diabetes can access the care and support they need to live free from blame or judgement about their condition.

Everyone living with diabetes deserves to be supported, not stigmatised.

Join the Strike Out Stigma campaign and with your help, we will:

• Strike out misinformation in the media – we’ll demand accurate information and real stories instead
• Strike out the judgement at healthcare appointments – we’ll ask healthcare professionals to treat the whole person so that the challenges of living with diabetes are recognised
• Strike out assumptions about why someone has diabetes – we’ll increase awareness about the condition and its complex causes
• Strike out the food policing from friends and family – we’ll encourage support and understanding instead
• Strike out the lack of support and understanding at work – we’ll demand that people with diabetes can thrive
• Strike out the division between different types of diabetes – we need solidarity instead
• Strike out blame in decision-making. We’ll make sure policy makers and healthcare funders understand diabetes.
• We’ll strike out stigma for good... And change how we talk about diabetes.

Read more about our stigma campaigning work

Our position statement on stigma

Stigma amongst global majority ethnicities

Stigma and missed healthcare appointments

Our investments in stigma research

Our new research looking at diabetes stigma at scale in the UK 

Watch our 'If You Knew' video from World Diabetes Day 2024, where we hear from people living with diabetes about how stigma made them feel. 

Stigma Champion Partners

Tackling diabetes stigma is a key priority for Diabetes UK, and we are extremely grateful for Abbott's support to date, which has helped us fund research into identifying and understanding the different ways in which stigma can be perpetuated in the lives of those living with diabetes