(BPT) - Diabetes is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide.1 Daily management is tough, but one of the biggest challenges for those living with diabetes is confronting stigma, judgment and misconceptions from people who don't share the experience.2
Hear from three people who live with diabetes as they seek to change the narrative of stigma associated with the chronic condition.
kAmkDEC@?8m$92>:?8 9FCEDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%@>6<2 !@CE6C[ d_[ 92D >2?2865 96C 5:236E6D 7@C @G6C c_ J62CD[ 2?5 766=D 6>A@H6C65 E@ >2<6 96C @H? 564:D:@?D E92?<D E@ 67764E:G6 5:236E6D >2?286>6?E E649?@=@8J]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ H96? 5:?:?8 @FE[ 96C H6==\>62?:?8 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J D@>6E:>6D BF6DE:@? 96C 564:D:@? E@ @C56C 56DD6CE]k^Am
kAm(92E E96J 92G6?VE D66? :D E92E D96VD 2=C625J 42=4F=2E65 E96 42C3D[ 25;FDE65 96C :?DF=:? 5@D6 2?5 4964<65 96C 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D]k^Am
kAmQu@C >6[ 92G:?8 6I46==6?E 4@?EC@= @G6C >J 5:236E6D >62?D FD:?8 E96 E@@=D E92E 42? 8:G6 >6 C62=\E:>6 :?7@C>2E:@? E@ >2<6 C62=\E:>6 564:D:@?D[Q D2:5 !@CE6C] Q%96 36DE E@@= x 92G6 :D >J 4@?E:?F@FD 8=F4@D6 >@?:E@C] xE <66AD >6 @? EC24<[ :? 4@?EC@= 2?5 4@>A=6E6=J 244@F?E23=6[ D@ E96 A6@A=6 xV> H:E9 5@?VE 92G6 E@ 5@ :E 7@C >6]Qk^Am
kAm$62? wF896D[ ec[ 2=D@ =:G6D H:E9 5:236E6D 2?5 7:?5D E92E A6@A=6 7:I2E6 @? H92E 42FD65 9:D 4@?5:E:@?[ 2DDF>:?8 E92E :E DE6>D 7C@> A@@C =:76DEJ=6 49@:46D]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6VD E9:D :562 E92E A6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D 2C6 E@ 3=2>6 7@C E96:C 4@?5:E:@?[Q 96 D2:5] QxEVD ?@E 2D D:>A=6 2D[ Vk6>m*@F 5:5?VE 62E C:89E]k^6>mVQk^Am
kAmrC:E:4:D> @7 7@@5 2?5 =:76DEJ=6 564:D:@?D :D 2 4@>>@? 492==6?86] !6@A=6 H:E9 3@E9 %JA6 ` 2?5 %JA6 a 5:236E6D 2C6 @7E6? F?72:C=J ;F5865[ C6:?7@C4:?8 E96 72=D6 36=:67 E92E 5:236E6D :D @?=J 42FD65 3J Q325Q 49@:46D] x? ECFE9[ 5:236E6D :D 2 4@>A=6I 4@?5:E:@? :?7=F6?465 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:236E6D]@C8^23@FE\5:236E6D^86?6E:4D\5:236E6DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm86?6E:4D[ :>>F?6 DJDE6> C6DA@?D6D[ 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 @E96C 724E@CDk^2m]kDFAmbk^DFAmk^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQ>2I\H:5E9i e__AIj H:5E9i e__AIjQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C2?5A@:?E4@?E6?E]4@>^:>286D^ec4ahc6d\5724\c6`5\2ff2\6bg537e477fc];A8Q 2=ElQ|2? @? E:?J >@E@C4J4=6 2?5 =:EE=6 8FJ H62C:?8 2 96=>6E]Q H:5E9lQe__Q 3@C56ClQ_Q ^mk^5:Gm
kAmw6C6VD H92E !@CE6C 2?5 wF896D H:D9 6G6CJ@?6 <?6H 23@FE =:G:?8 H:E9 5:236E6Dik^Am
k@=mk=:mkDEC@?8mtG6CJ 52J >62?D 4@?DE2?E 564:D:@?\>2<:?8]k^DEC@?8mk3C ^m!6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>65]DE2?7@C5]65F^?6HD^:?D:89ED^a_`c^_d^?6H\C6D62C49\<66AD\5:236E:4D\D276C\5FC:?8\D=66A]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm>2<6 FA E@ `g_ 962=E9 564:D:@?D 52:=Jk^2m]kDFAmck^DFAm uC@> AC65:4E:?8 9@H E96:C 8=F4@D6 C6DA@?5D E@ H92E E96J 62E E@ 49@@D:?8 H92E 24E:G:E:6D E96J 5@ – 2== H9:=6 >2?28:?8 E96 >65:42E:@?D E96J E2<6 – DE2J:?8 962=E9J C6BF:C6D 4@?DE2?E G:8:=2?46]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%96C6VD ?@ @?6\D:K6\7:ED\2== A=2?]k^DEC@?8mk3C ^mtG6CJ@?6VD ;@FC?6J H:E9 5:236E6D :D A6CD@?2=] (92E H@C<D 7@C @?6 A6CD@? >2J ?@E H@C< 7@C 2?@E96C]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mxEVD ?@E ;FDE 23@FE DF82C]k^DEC@?8mk3C ^ms:236E6D :D 23@FE 9@H E96 3@5J AC@46DD6D 8=F4@D6[ H9:49 42? 36 27764E65 3J :?DF=:? C6D:DE2?46[ DEC6DD[ :==?6DD[ D=66A 2?5 24E:G:EJ =6G6=D – ?@E ;FDE 7@@5]kDFAmdk^DFAmk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mp 4@?E:?F@FD 8=F4@D6 >@?:E@C Wrv|X 42? 96=A :?7@C> =:76DEJ=6 49@:46D]k3C ^mk^DEC@?8mrv|D 2C6 5:D4C66E 3:@H62C23=6D E92E >@?:E@C 2 A6CD@?VD 8=F4@D6 :? C62=\E:>6[ 96=A:?8 E96> F?56CDE2?5 9@H 7@@5[ 24E:G:EJ 2?5 >65:42E:@?D 27764E E96:C =6G6=D] %9:D :?D:89E 96=AD DFAA@CE :?7@C>65 564:D:@?D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$FAA@CE >2EE6CD]k3C ^mk^DEC@?8mw6=A7F= =2?8F286 96=AD 4C62E6 2 >@C6 DFAA@CE:G6 6?G:C@?>6?E] x? 2 DFCG6J 4@?5F4E65 3J p33@EE[ f_T @7 C6DA@?56?ED D2:5 DFAA@CE:G6 4@>>6?ED 7C@> @E96CD 42? D:8?:7:42?E=J 3@@DE E96:C >@E:G2E:@? E@ >2?286 E96:C 4@?5:E:@?]kDFAmek^DFAmk^=:mk^@=m
kAmq6E92?J s:?8>2?[ ba[ 92D =:G65 H:E9 5:236E6D 7@C >@C6 E92? a_ J62CD 2?5 D92C6D !@CE6C 2?5 wF896DV 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 25G:46] Qs:236E6D 5@6D ?@E 567:?6 H9@ J@F 2C6 2D 2 A6CD@?[Q D96 D2:5] Q*6D[ :E :D 2 D6C:@FD >65:42= 4@?5:E:@? 3FE H96? EC62E65 4@CC64E=J[ H96E96C E9C@F89 5:6E 2?5 6I6C4:D6[ 4964<:?8 J@FC 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D @C >65:42E:@?[ J@F 42? DE:== 6?;@J =:76]Qk^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQ>2I\H:5E9i e__AIj H:5E9i e__AIjQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C2?5A@:?E4@?E6?E]4@>^:>286D^7`44hg53\7_ac\caf3\gc22\c3ehcfeceb43];A8Q 2=ElQ%9C66 8:C= 7C:6?5D 2E E96 8J> E2<:?8 2 3C62< 7C@> E96:C H@C< @FE]Q H:5E9lQe__Q 3@C56ClQ_Q ^mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ{:DE:4=6r2AE:@?Q DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i ``AIjQmk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ{:DE:4=6r2AE:@?Q DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i ``AIjQmk^5:Gm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 H6:89E @7 DE:8>2k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp33@EE[ 2 8=@32= =6256C :? 5:236E6D 3:@H62C23=6D[ C646?E=J C6=62D65 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^233@]EE^c?vyyJzQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmC6D62C49k^2m 42AEFC:?8 E96 C62=\=:76 6IA6C:6?46D @7 A6@A=6 =:G:?8 H:E9 5:236E6D]kDFAmek^DFAm xE D9@H65ik^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:m}62C=J f_T 36=:6G6 E96C6 :D DE:8>2 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96:C 4@?5:E:@?]kDFAmek^DFAmk^=:mk=:mp=>@DE adT 92G6 2G@:565 D92C:?8 E96:C 5:28?@D:D H:E9 72>:=J @C 7C:6?5D @FE @7 6>32CC2DD>6?E @C 4@?46C?]kDFAmdk^DFAmk^=:mk=:mc_T 92G6 D<:AA65 @C >:DD65 2 5@4E@CVD 2AA@:?E>6?E 5F6 E@ D92>6]kDFAmek^DFAmk^=:mk^F=m
kAm%96D6 7:?5:?8D C6G62= E92E DE:8>2E:K:?8 4@>>6?ED 5@?VE ;FDE 9FCE[ E96J :D@=2E6] %96J 42? >2<6 A6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D =6DD =:<6=J E@ D66< 42C6[ =6DD H:==:?8 E@ D92C6 E96:C DECF88=6D 2?5 >@C6 GF=?6C23=6 E@ D92>6]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ{:DE:4=6r2AE:@?Q DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i ``AIjQmk5:G DEJ=6lQ>2I\H:5E9i e__AIj H:5E9i e__AIjQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C2?5A@:?E4@?E6?E]4@>^:>286D^agg245g_\acfg\c4fb\363_\5ad`364_5e7g];A8Q 2=ElQ$>:=:?8 H@>2? E2=<:?8 H:E9 2 7C:6?5 2E H@C<]Q H:5E9lQe__Q 3@C56ClQ_Q ^mk^5:Gmk5:G 4=2DDlQ{:DE:4=6r2AE:@?Qmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H J@F 42? 36 DFAA@CE:G6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$E2CE H:E9 6>A2E9J] x?DE625 @7 2D<:?8 H92E 2 A6CD@? H:E9 5:236E6D Q42?Q @C Q42?VEQ 5@[ 2D< 9@H J@F 42? DFAA@CE E96>] #6DA64E E92E A6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D 2C6 E96 >@DE <?@H=658623=6 23@FE E96:C @H? 4@?5:E:@? 2?5 9@H E@ >2?286 :E]k^Am
kAmQ!6@A=6 E9:?< E92E 92G:?8 5:236E6D >62?D E92E x 42?VE 92G6 DF82C[ 3FE :EVD >F49 >@C6 4@>A=6I E92? E92E] x 92G6 2? 6I46==6?E DJDE6> :? A=246 E@ 96=A >6 >2?286 :E[Q !@CE6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmQs:236E6D :D D@>6E9:?8 x H@C< 2E >2?28:?8 6G6CJ D:?8=6 52J[Q 25565 wF896D] Q%96 :562= DFAA@CE :D C6DA64E:?8 E92E x <?@H >J 3@5J 2?5 >J ?665D] x 2> :? 4@?EC@=]Qk^Am
kAmQx 2> =:G:?8 AC@@7 E92E 5:236E6D :D ?@E DE@AA:?8 >6 7C@> =:G:?8 >J 36DE =:76[Q D92C6D s:?8>2?] Qx 92G6 E96 E@@=D E@ 6?DFC6 >J 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D DE2J 2E 2 D276 =6G6= 2?5 :E 96=AD >6 H@CCJ =6DD H9:=6 5@:?8 >J H@C<@FED 2?5 A=2??:?8 >J >62=D]Qk^Am
kAm%@ C2:D6 2H2C6?6DD 23@FE E96 962=E9 :>A24E @7 5:236E6D\C6=2E65 >:D4@?46AE:@?D[ p33@EE =2F?4965 E96 p3@G6 E96 q:2D :?:E:2E:G6] x7 J@F @C D@>6@?6 J@F <?@H :D =:G:?8 H:E9 5:236E6D 2?5 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE H92E 36EE6C DFAA@CE =@@<D =:<6[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^233@]EE^c?vyyJzQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp3@G6q:2D]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAmk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQR065?C67`Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk6>m%96 G:6HD 6IAC6DD65 :? E9:D DE@CJ D9@F=5 ?@E 36 FD65 7@C >65:42= 5:28?@D:D @C EC62E>6?E @C 2D 2 DF3DE:EFE6 7@C AC@76DD:@?2= >65:42= 25G:46] x?5:G:5F2= DJ>AE@>D[ D:EF2E:@?D 2?5 4:C4F>DE2?46D >2J G2CJ]k^6>mk^Am
k5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`QmkAm` (@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9@]:?E^962=E9\E@A:4D^5:236E6DRE23lE230`Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQms:236E6Dk^2m[ 2446DD65 $6AE6>36C `g[ a_ad]k^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?aQmkAma $A6:89E[ y2?6[ t=:K236E9 w@=>6D\%CFD4@EE[ |2EE96H v2CK2[ 6E 2=] QqC:?8:?8 2? t?5 E@ s:236E6D $E:8>2 2?5 s:D4C:>:?2E:@?i p? x?E6C?2E:@?2= r@?D6?DFD $E2E6>6?E @? tG:56?46 2?5 #64@>>6?52E:@?D]Q %96 {2?46E s:236E6D U2>Aj t?5@4C:?@=@8J `a[ ?@] ` Wy2?F2CJ a_acXi e`–ga] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96=2?46E]4@>^;@FC?2=D^=2?5:2^2CE:4=6^!xx$aa`b\gdgfWabX__bcf\h^AAEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]E96=2?46E]4@>^;@FC?2=D^=2?5:2^2CE:4=6^!xx$aa`b\gdgfWabX__bcf\h^AAEk^2m]k^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?bQmkAmb p>6C:42? s:236E6D pDD@4:2E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:236E6D]@C8^23@FE\5:236E6D^86?6E:4D\5:236E6DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmv6?6E:4D @7 s:236E6Dk^2m[ 2446DD65 $6AE6>36C `g[ a_ad]k^AmkAmc $E2?7@C5 |65:4:?6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>65]DE2?7@C5]65F^?6HD^:?D:89ED^a_`c^_d^?6H\C6D62C49\<66AD\5:236E:4D\D276C\5FC:?8\D=66A]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm}6H C6D62C49 D9@HD 9@H E@ <66A 5:236E:4D D276C 5FC:?8 D=66Ak^2m[ 2446DD65 ~4E@36C af[ a_ad]k^AmkAmd p>6C:42? s:236E6D pDD@4:2E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:236E6D]@C8^23@FE\5:236E6D^9:89\3=@@5\DF82CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmq=@@5 v=F4@D6 2?5 x?DF=:?k^2m[ 2446DD65 ~4E@36C `_[ a_ad]k^AmkAme s2E2 @? 7:=6[ p33@EE s:236E6D r2C6] q2D65 @? 2 8=@32= DFCG6J 2>@?8 `[abb 25F=E A2CE:4:A2?ED W?l`bc H:E9 EJA6 ` s:236E6D[ ?l`[_hh H:E9 %JA6 a s:236E6DX 4@>>:DD:@?65 3J p33@EE 2?5 4@?5F4E65 3J $2G2?E2 :? |2J a_ac]k^Amk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.