What is Diabetes Stigma?
While much of diabetes management is centered around meeting the demands of both physical and mental health, another heavy burden that is often overlooked is the social stigma faced by individuals with diabetes. Diabetes stigma refers to negative social judgment and discrimination toward people living with any type of diabetes.
Diabetes stigma is commonly divided into two forms: internalized and external stigma:
- Internalized stigma, sometimes called self-stigma, refers to the internalizing or agreement with negative social beliefs. For people with diabetes this may cause feelings, such as shame, blame, self-doubt, or diminished self-worth—as if they’re at fault for having diabetes.
- External stigma refers to discrimination, bias, judgment, and cynicism from others—including healthcare professionals who, despite holding extensive medical knowledge and training in diabetes, may still carry inaccurate assumptions about the condition. These negative beliefs and attitudes include public judgments that come from misunderstandings and assumptions that shame, blame, and target individuals with diabetes.
Prevalence and Widespread Effects:
Diabetes stigma is increasingly prevalent across both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes populations, which often worsens one’s self-perception of their condition, causing emotional distress, social withdrawal, and difficulty seeking support. Studies have shown that individuals of all ages and types of diabetes have reported experiencing stigma personally. These experiences not only affect mental health but are also associated with a reduction in self-management behaviors and poor clinical outcomes.
Consequences of Diabetes Stigma on Mental, Physical, and Social Health:
Diabetes stigma increases the risk of depression and anxiety, which are associated with the development of chronic diabetes-related distress. External stigma—whether through public judgment or discrimination—can limit an individual’s sense of autonomy, self-efficacy, and motivation in managing their condition. In response, individuals may experience mental resistance to maintaining their health, which can disrupt essential actions, such as medication adherence, following a glucose-conscious diet, and staying physically active. When these health behaviors are reduced, HbA1c levels may rise, heightening the risk of both short- and long-term health complications. External stigma also affects social well-being. Emotional detachment caused by negative social encounters can lead to self-isolation, discouraging individuals from seeking support from personal networks or healthcare providers, worsening both existing and emerging health concerns, and reinforcing this self-destructive cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break.
Strategies for Addressing and Reducing Diabetes Stigma:
Addressing diabetes stigma requires a multifaceted approach involving both people with and without diabetes. While public education plays an essential role in challenging misconceptions, assumptions, and stereotypes —and replacing them with evidence-based information—this alone is not sufficient given that diabetes stigma remains present even within healthcare environments. Medical professionals should also undergo training to identify and address implicit biases towards patients and improve their empathy-centered communication when supporting patients affected by diabetes stigma. Lastly, community efforts such as support groups, local organizations, and public awareness campaigns can provide safe spaces for people with diabetes and help shift current public perception. Together, we share the responsibility to recognize and accept that diabetes is not a personal shortcoming, but a quiet yet powerful resilience they carry each day.
Angela Yang, BA
Edited By Dr. Rita Kalyani
