Hannah Greer
Diabetes Stigma Campaigns Lead, Diabetes UK
More than 12 million people in the UK are currently living with diabetes or prediabetes.1 It is a serious and complex condition, but for many people, managing their physical health is only part of the challenge.
More than 12 million people in the UK are currently living with diabetes or prediabetes.1 It is a serious and complex condition, but for many people, managing their physical health is only part of the challenge.
Research from Diabetes UK found that 86% of people with Type 1 diabetes and 75% of people with Type 2 diabetes experience blame and judgment because of their condition.2 Negative attitudes about diabetes can come from friends, family, colleagues, the public and even healthcare professionals.
Diabetes stigma
Diabetes stigma is linked to lower self-esteem, diabetes distress and symptoms of depression. Stigmatising attitudes and language can also stop people from engaging with healthcare teams, increasing the risk of serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and sight loss.
Used effectively, language can encourage positive interactions, build confidence and support effective self-management, leading to improved clinical outcomes.
BLAME-aware tool
Diabetes UK’s new “BLAME-aware tool” highlights five ways stigma can appear in conversations: blaming, labelling, assumptions, misconceptions and emphasis on failure.
The tool provides language guidance for healthcare professionals, as stigma, while often unintentional, can leave people feeling ashamed and disengaged from their care.
Blaming someone for their weight, food choices or glucose levels can lead to feelings of “failure” and disengagement from healthcare. Diabetes is complex, and genetics, environment, ethnicity and access to healthcare can all play a role.
Labelling people as “non-compliant” or “diabetic” can feel dehumanising and reduce a person to a condition rather than recognising them as an individual living with diabetes.
Used effectively, language can encourage positive interactions, build confidence and support effective self-management, leading to improved clinical outcomes
Assumptions, including prejudging someone based on their ethnicity or cultural background, can create further obstacles in someone trying to access care that’s right for them.
Misconceptions continue to fuel stereotypes. Myths about diabetes ignore the reality of living with a lifelong condition that requires constant management, decision-making and emotional resilience. Emphasis on ‘good’ and ‘bad’ diabetes management can leave people feeling unsupported in managing a complex condition. Language that frames diabetes management as ‘pass or fail’ risks reinforcing shame rather than encouraging support and engagement.
You can download the BLAME tool here
[1] Diabetes UK. (2025). One in five adults now live with diabetes or prediabetes in the UK. https://tinyurl.com/3epmbsma.
[2] Diabetes UK. (2025). 86% of people with type 1 and 75% of people with type 2 experience judgement for their condition. https://tinyurl. com/2aphwyt7.
