November 01, 2024 Stigma should not be part of a diabetes diagnosis

The first thing my mom does when she wakes every morning is test her blood sugar. From there, her day is full of activities intended to ensure she stays healthy: she follows a strict diet, exercises, tests her blood sugar, and takes medication. She also checks her calendar regularly to ensure visits to her doctor are scheduled to have her feet and eyes examined. As a grandmother of two, she seeks to remain as healthy as she can in order to play with her grandchildren and be an active participant in their lives.

“Blame-the-victim” thinking

My mom lives with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and does all this in hopes of avoiding the complications of the condition, such as vision loss, foot or leg amputation, nerve damage, and heart disease. But there’s one complication that she can do little to avoid—the mental health toll of stigma.

Because type 2 diabetes has a connection with diet and exercise, people with the condition face a ‘blame-the-victim’ mentality: they are shamed and blamed for their diabetes, leaving many feeling embarrassed and guilty.

Why type 2 diabetes is complicated

Stigmatizing beliefs represent warped versions of the truth—the links between T2D and eating habits, physical activity levels and weight do exist. However, they are not as straightforward as common knowledge would have us believe.

While some people with obesity do have diabetes, many more do not. Many people who exercise regularly, eat nutritious food and are otherwise health conscious, develop T2D, despite their healthy habits. In fact, there is a strong genetic link to the condition. A family history of T2D greatly increases the chance of developing it.  

Social, economic, and environmental factors can make healthy living difficult. For example, it's more difficult to afford healthy food on a low or fixed income. Also, low-income neighbourhoods often do not offer opportunities for inexpensive exercise—sidewalks may not be well maintained, there may be no bike lanes, public transit or walking trails. For those consistently worried about paying the bills or working extra hours, finding time to exercise, or the money to join sports or exercise programs, is simply not attainable.

Understanding the stigma

So why the stigma? News reports related to T2D are often voiced over videos of overweight individuals sauntering about, ice cream in hand. This draws a connection between weight, diet and diabetes, and strengthens the myth, even among family and friends, that those living with diabetes brought it on themselves.

Some healthcare professionals are not immune to reinforcing stigmatizing beliefs. Some doctors may unconsciously bring their own biases into the room when dealing with patients with T2D, especially if those patients are also living with overweight or obesity—highly stigmatized conditions in their own right. This may make it difficult for some doctors to empathize with or support patients properly.

Such negative beliefs and attitudes about T2D have real consequences for the emotional and physical health of those living with diabetes. Many prefer to hide their condition and report feeling embarrassed and ashamed, which likely contributes to their higher-than-average rates of depression and anxiety.

Addressing the stigma

Media must stop perpetuating harmful stereotypes and work alongside professional groups to provide accurate information about T2D. Health-care providers should be offered training to support a psychosocial approach and ensure patients are treated with compassion. My mom would certainly appreciate these changes. Let's work together to end diabetes stigma, and ensure that people like my mom and the many others living with type 2 diabetes can live healthful, happy lives.

Did you know?

Stigma is fuelled by misconceptions, misinformation and negative perceptions or biases. And it can result in judgment and discrimination, more simply put, blame and shame). That’s why Diabetes Canada is working to change the conversation about diabetes stigma and created the first survey in Canada to learn more about how judgment and discrimination can impact people with the chronic condition. Visit Change the Conversation About Diabetes for details.

This November during Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re calling on Canadians to show support for people living with diabetes by making time to learn more about this too-often “invisible” condition and sharing that knowledge with their communities.

Krista Halliday worked in advocacy and policy at Diabetes Canada for five years.