Diabetes Stigma Archives

Bringing an End to Diabetes Stigma and Discrimination

Diabetes stigma can negatively impact the health, self-care, well-being, and professional and social lives of people with diabetes. It can also negatively impact impact public and government support and funding for diabetes research, prevention, clinical care, and treatments. To bring an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination, an expert panel of 51 researchers, health professionals, […]

Research on Stigma From Health Professionals

Shot of a group of doctors using a digital tablet at work research on stigma from healthcare professionals

People with diabetes consistently report experiencing stigma in healthcare spaces and from health professionals. Here are key research findings and interventional studies from leading experts in the field. A Qualitative Study of Perceived Responsibility and Self-Blame in Type 2 Diabetes: Reflections of Physicians and Patients Takeaways Interviews with 19 endocrinologists and primary care providers and […]

Foundational Research on Diabetes Stigma

Shot of a young doctor sharing information from his digital tablet with an older patient conducting diabetes stigma research

The field of research on diabetes stigma is growing. Researchers are continuing to build on our knowledge of what diabetes stigma is, what its impact is on people with diabetes, and how we can begin to address it. Here are key research findings from leading experts in the field. Bringing an end to diabetes stigma […]

What is Diabetes Stigma?

Diabetes Stigma: Graphic of a doctor's hand unraveling a string around a heart. Diabetes technology and medications. A Resource for Healthcare Heroes.

Diabetes stigma refers to negative social judgments, stereotypes, and prejudices about diabetes, or about a person due to their diabetes.1 Diabetes stigma becomes discrimination when it is used in unfair or prejudicial treatment towards a person with diabetes.1 Why does diabetes stigma exist? Most health-related stigma, including diabetes stigma, is caused by shame, blame, fear, […]

Diabetes Stigma in Healthcare

Many health professionals are incredibly supportive of people with diabetes and skilled at delivering compassionate, person-centered care and treatment. However, studies show that people with diabetes experience implicit and explicit stigma from health professionals.1-3 What do we know? Unfortunately, implicit and explicit bias against people with diabetes is common among health professionals. In a study […]

How to Talk About Diabetes-Related Technology

There have been many innovations in the technology that people with diabetes use to monitor their glucose levels and deliver insulin in recent years. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM), insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have all contributed to helping people better manage their diabetes. However, conversations around diabetes-related technology and devices can sometimes […]

How to Talk About Diabetes-Related Medications

Whether it’s metformin, insulin, or newer medications like SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, or dual agonists, there are dozens of helpful medications designed to help people with diabetes manage their glucose levels and reduce their risk for diabetes-related complications. However, conversations around diabetes medications, especially insulin, can be difficult and fraught with stigmatizing and judgmental […]

Lightning Talks: Diabetes Stigma and the Need for Disruption

diaTribe hosted the d22 Lightning Talks – where four leaders in the field explored the impact of diabetes stigma and the need to disrupt the status quo to enact dramatic social change. Ending diabetes stigma and its devastating effects will rely on courageous advocates and creative solutions. The status quo is bogged down by harmful […]

Lightning Talks: Stigma and the Stories We Tell

diaTribe hosted the d21 Lightning Talks – where three people with diabetes shared their experiences with diabetes stigma and the power of storytelling to create social change. As we continue our quest to dismantle the toxicity of diabetes stigma we invite you to hear several amazing speakers share the stories they weave to create changes […]

Lightning Talks: Dr. James Gavin III on Stigma in Healthcare

Each year, diaTribe hosts the Lightning Talks, a virtual event that brings leading researchers, advocates, and health professionals together to educating people and raise awareness around diabetes stigma. In 2020, diaTribe hosted diabetes physician, researcher, and former President of the American Diabetes Association, Dr. James Gavin III, who gave a talk highlighting the physician’s perspective […]