US review investigates how stigmatising language in health care affects how people with diabetes feel, manage their condition, and health outcomes
Stigma is when a person or group are negatively judged for something that others see as “different”. Stigma can include being labelled, blamed or treated differently. It can also include when we judge or blame ourselves. Stigma related to having diabetes is a very real and concerning issue. Four in five people with diabetes report experiencing stigma because of their diabetes. Diabetes stigma can impact the way people with feel about themselves, manage their diabetes, and their health and wellbeing.
#LanguageMatters in reducing diabetes stigma
Stigma can be expressed in the way we talk about diabetes. For example, our previous research has explored people’s experiences of common diabetes words and phrases. We showed that words like ‘compliance’, ‘control’, and describing glucose levels as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ can convey blame and judgment. More positive interactions, especially with health professionals, are described as non-judgmental and supportive.
What is the impact of stigmatising language?
Researchers in the US investigated how negative or stigmatising words used in the health care setting affect people with diabetes. They explored the impacts of language on how people with diabetes feel, their diabetes management, and glucose levels. To do this, researchers reviewed the published evidence. They found nine relevant studies.
Studies show that when people with diabetes feel judged or shamed by their healthcare providers, they are less likely to engage in self-care behaviours. Stigmatising language was also linked to diabetes distress and out-of-target glucose levels. While positive communications were linked to lower diabetes distress and greater engagement in diabetes self-care behaviours. When people with diabetes do not feel stigmatised, they were more likely to take medications and engage in healthful eating and movement.
Key takeaways
The way we talk about diabetes matters and stigma is harmful. Our language needs to show that we CARE and remove BIAS. Rethinking the words we use is a simple but powerful step in bringing an end to diabetes stigma. Non-stigmatising language is more likely to support people with diabetes in their self-management and promote health and wellbeing. More studies are needed to understand how to improve communications and reduce diabetes stigma in healthcare settings.
Want to know more?
Check out our blogs and research on diabetes stigma and #LanguageMatters.
Reference
Dickinson JK, Posesorski RE, Djiovanis SG, Brady VJ. Impact of Negative or Stigmatizing Messages on Diabetes Outcomes: An Integrative Review. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. 2024 Apr;50(2):167-78.
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