People with diabetes continue to bear the burden of stigma and discrimination around the world. On World Diabetes Day, we share six of her stories that highlight the challenges faced after diagnosis.
Arvind, who is from India and has type 2 diabetes, talks about the stigma that surrounds love and marriage for people with diabetes, and also shares his experiences with discrimination in the workplace.
Heather, who has been living with type 2 diabetes for more than a decade, spoke about expensive diabetes medication in Zimbabwe and detailed the unforgiving judgment and the toll it took on her health.
Rania’s journey unfolds as she struggles with the judgments and misconceptions of her friends as a student when she is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and ultimately finds strength through the support of her family and Algerian medical team.
Nikita, who also has type 1 diabetes, uses her lived experience in the United States to highlight the importance of collective efforts to raise awareness and humanize diabetes.
Carmila’s experience with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia is a stark reminder of the financial barriers many people face in accessing the diabetes testing and care they need, and highlights the urgent need for affordable health care. Masu.
Andres, who has lived with type 2 diabetes in Spain, said having reliable access to blood sugar monitoring equipment is critical, and says that supplies are less important than managing complications. We have dispelled the misconception that providing services is expensive.
These stories collectively highlight the need for compassion, awareness, and change to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.
Arvind, type 2 diabetic from India
“Diabetes is still looked down upon as a social stigma, especially When it comes to relationship issues, people hesitate to consider people living with diabetes. Such refusals are very common. I myself have faced this stigma until I found my soulmate in someone living with type 1 diabetes.
I have faced a lot of discrimination at work. This discrimination is not direct or obvious, but I felt it nonetheless. Company management has the idea that because I have diabetes, they can’t handle the workload and stress like other “normal” people and they can’t treat me special.
Educating people with the correct information can go a long way in reducing this prejudice and discrimination. ”
Heather, type 2 diabetic from Zimbabwe
“The biggest barrier to accessing medicine in my country is cost. The vast majority of people living with this disease are affected by this problem, and they end up going without medication for long periods of time. , especially insulin rationing, which leads to poor treatment outcomes and early treatment.”
Having lived with type 2 diabetes for the past 10 years, I am very aware of the stigma and discrimination associated with diabetes. I have experienced both overt and subtle judgments, including negative looks and derogatory comments, about what I should or should not have done to prevent type 2 diabetes. I did.. The constant feeling of being judged is extremely overwhelming for me, causing feelings of embarrassment, remorse, guilt, emotional distress, and an overall decrease in my quality of life.
Destigmatizing diabetes starts with education and awareness. Governments, civil society and international health organizations must take responsibility for raising community awareness to increase understanding of this condition. All of this will go a long way toward creating a more caring and respectful world for people with diabetes. ”
Rania lives with type 1 diabetes. algeria
”When I went back to school after my diagnosis, my friends started telling me not to eat candy or drink juice.. So I ate it in front of them to prove that I can eat whatever I want. When I get home, I inject more insulin to cause hypoglycemia and eat again. Also, at the time, I believed that hypoglycemia was better than hyperglycemia. As a result, I gained weight and people started telling me that I looked fat and ugly because of the weight I gained. It got to the point where I hated looking at myself in the mirror. But thanks to my parents and doctors, I was able to overcome it. ”
Nikita, type 1 diabetic from the United States
“Diabetes affects every aspect of life, so community collaboration is critical. Our community is one of our greatest strengths, and we need meaningful support to raise diabetes awareness.” can be provided.
Lived experiences are very important in raising awareness about diabetes. When I hear someone’s story, it stays with me. It humanizes the condition, makes it more than just a statistic or a buzzword, and shows that diabetes can affect anyone. People who have overcome the challenges of managing diabetes and its complications can inspire their colleagues to adopt healthier lifestyles and preventive measures. ”
Karmila, type 2 diabetic patient from Indonesia
“I don’t have regular tests for diabetes-related complications. I know it’s not ideal, but the cost of testing is very high and I don’t have insurance that covers medical exams. I realized that if I didn’t get tested, I was putting myself at risk.” When my body shows some symptoms, I may find out that I already have significant complications.
I experienced several complications related to diabetes. Last year, in addition to depression, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and angina pectoris. During the recruitment process, I was diagnosed with diabetes. As a result of the medical examination, his blood sugar level exceeded the standard value, so he was rejected at that time. That was one of the triggers for my depression because I felt like I had no future.
Educating people about diabetes will improve understanding of people living with diabetes. As the level of understanding increases, prejudice decreases. ”
Andres, type 2 diabetic from Spain
“For many years I have struggled to obtain equipment to test blood sugar levels. Many people with type 2 diabetes have unstable or no access to supplies. There’s nothing you can do.”
