Many people feel isolated after a diabetes diagnosis and blame themselves.  Some don’t reach out for medical help for fear of the stigma. 

 Kim was confronted by her own lack of knowledge when her daughter Ella was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.   

 “I’m not going to lie, when my daughter was first diagnosed, I thought it was my fault. I thought we had fed her too much sugar and that only unhealthy people got it. I was embarrassed to admit to myself and those around us what it was. I just believed everything people always said about it.  I don’t think any of that now.” 

 Kim is not alone. A shockingly high number of respondents in a recent survey reported they had been blamed, judged, or treated differently because they have diabetes.  You may have taken part in this survey yourself.

 Comments like “You can’t eat that … you have diabetes!” or “Eating too much sugar causes diabetes” and “You brought this on yourself” are heard all too often and cause people living with diabetes to isolate themselves and not get the help they need.   

 We still have a long way to go to break down the stigma that surrounds diabetes.  

Although they are still very early on into their journey, Kim says she can only imagine what other people have gone through.   

 “I never want any parent to miss the signs like we almost did. Had we known more of the signs maybe we could have caught it even earlier, or maybe we wouldn’t have felt so embarrassed when we found out what it was,” says Kim. 

Our diabetes myth buster guide aims to break down the top 4 myths that surround diabetes.  Please use this to combat comments from others and join us in the fight to reduce judgement and stigma of people with diabetes. 

Help break the shame by making a donation to ensure more New Zealanders receive the true facts about diabetes.

If you have experienced diabetes stigma, misinformed comments and would like to talk to one of our team, call our helpline on 0800 342 238.