I don’t know too many people living with diabetes who haven’t experienced stigma. I know I certainly have. In twenty-three years of living with diabetes, it’s come from all directions: the media, healthcare professionals, work colleagues and even family and friends. That’s because people outside the diabetes community often have pre-conceived ideas about what diabetes is all about, and a lot of those ideas are plain wrong.

But stigma doesn’t only come from outside the community. In fact, for some people with diabetes, some of the most harmful and hurtful experiences of stigma has actually come from other people with, or affected by, diabetes.

While this may be a challenging truth to face, it’s undeniable that often there is stigma within our community. I own my part in that. I remember there was a time when I truly believed that type 1 diabetes was the more serious, the more complex, the more deserving diabetes. I would frequently tell people that the differences between my diabetes and type 2 diabetes was centred in the simple fact that I did nothing to bring it on myself. My diabetes was blame free. Type 2? Not so much.

When diabetes is maligned somehow – perhaps when a comedian makes a joke about diabetes or when the host of a cooking show refers to a cake as ‘diabetes on a plate, or a prominent media commentator says sugar causes diabetes – there can often be a pile on as people with type 1 diabetes quickly make sure that others understand that it is not their diabetes that is being spoken about in that stigmatising way.

But there are a couple of problems with that.

To begin with, it’s incorrect. There is no such thing as ‘type 2 diabetes on a plate’, any more than there is ‘type 1 diabetes on a plate’! Diabetes jokes are harmful to everyone with diabetes. And sugar doesn’t cause anyone’s diabetes – no matter what type they have.

On top of being plain wrong, demanding clarification of diabetes type adds stigma to those with type 2 diabetes. It’s feeding the misconception that type 2 diabetes is caused by diet and diet alone, and misconceptions are often the basis of stigmatising comments and behaviours. There is no need to throw one type of diabetes under the bus to dispel myths about another type.   

So, what did it take to change my attitude about people with type 2 diabetes? I started listening to them. I heard their stories and understood just how hurtful my own behaviour had been. I come to understand that the similarities between how we feel about diabetes run deep. We all find it difficult at times. We all are dealing with the condition’s myriad challenges and frustrations. And the clincher: No one wants diabetes.

This National Diabetes Week, as we hear stories of stigma and how it affects people, I think there is one thing that we can all agree on and that is diabetes-related stigma hurts us all. It is unpleasant to be on the receiving end of blame and shame. And so, as we turn to people outside the community and show them how what they say and does can be stigmatising, and ask them to do better, perhaps we need to hold up a mirror into our own diabetes world and do what we can to make sure we’re not adding to that stigma.

Renza Scibilia is the Manager of Type 1 Diabetes and Communities at Diabetes Australia. She is a diabetes advocate, health writer and spokesperson. You can read more from her at www.diabetogenic.wordpress.com