The ACBRD publishes evidence about how and why #LanguageMatters to people with diabetes
By Micaela Tan
Our Language Matters. We know that words shape our reality and affect our well-being. When talking about diabetes, and people living with diabetes, it is critical to be respectful. The ACBRD has explored the impact of words that are often used with and about, people living with diabetes.
What did the study find?
The findings show that positive language can support and empower. They also show that negative language can harm. People with diabetes reported on language use mainly in health care settings, as well as in the media, family and general community.
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- Supportive: People living with diabetes feel more positive about it when others use words that are respectful and encouraging. They want health professionals to show empathy. They also want them to be accurate, clear and avoid using jargon. When health professionals are supportive, people with diabetes feel like an active partner in their diabetes care.
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- Person-centred: People with diabetes value health professionals who listen to them and encourage their input to make decisions about their own health. They report that this helps them to trust in their health care team. It also empowers them in their self-care.
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- Judgmental language: People with diabetes view phrases like “compliance”, “control” diabetes, and blood glucose levels being “good” or “bad” as harmful and blaming. These words cause distress. This leads people with diabetes to pull away. People with diabetes prefer phrases such as “manage” rather than “control” diabetes. They prefer talking about glucose levels being “in target” or “outside target range”, rather than being “good control” or “poor control”. They report this as being more acceptable and realistic.
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- Diverse experiences: The study shows that people with diabetes differ in their experiences with the words used in diabetes care. The words they prefer vary. However, words that convey blame and shame are unacceptable to many. Using person-first, positive or neutral language is less likely to cause harm or offense.
Diabetes Australia’s Language Position Statement provides helpful tips for improving how we talk with and about people with diabetes. We can also use this in our written work.
There are now similar diabetes language position statements in more than 20 countries! They are also available in several languages. Check out the international #LanguageMatters movement website. It raises awareness of the power of our words. It encourages everyone — community, media, and health professionals — to rethink the words they use, to support and empower people living with diabetes.
To read more about language matters in diabetes, check out our other language related blogs.
To read more, check out the full paper here:
Litterbach, E., Holmes‐Truscott, E., Gray, S., Halliday, J., Scibilia, R., Skinner, T., & Speight, J. (2024). “I feel like I’m being talked to like an equal”: Diabetes language matters to adults with diabetes, a mixed‐methods study. Diabetic Medicine, 2024; 00:e15424.
DOI: 10.1111/dme.15424
This study was conducted with funding from Diabetes Australia.
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