- 5 of 7 - Label Avoidance Stigma

According to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), diabetes is a medical condition where the body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly leading to difficulty regulating blood sugar levels. It can be categorized into two main types: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes often face challenges related to constant management of dietary restrictions, insulin injections or medication, and monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Label avoidance stigma happens when you distance yourself from a stigmatized group. For instance, you may publicly deny having a specific trait, illness, or reject treatment to avoid getting a diagnosis. People with diabetes may experience label avoidance stigma because of stereotypes and misconceptions associated with the condition driving fear of being unfairly judged, pitied, or treated differently if others know about their diabetes.

A few examples illustrating the negative impacts of label avoidance stigma related to diabetes are:

1. Avoid diagnosis: Some may avoid doctor appointments to avoid diagnosis or ignore escalating blood sugar levels and other test results indicating prediabetes.

2. Avoiding Discussions: People with prediabetes or diabetes may avoid talking about their condition with friends, co-workers, or even family members. Individuals may do this to prevent being treated as if they are fragile or incapable of making the lifestyles changes needed to return or maintain blood sugar levels within normal range. Avoiding discussions can lead to lack of understanding and support.

3. Hiding insulin injections: Some individuals with diabetes, especially those with Type 1 diabetes, might go to great lengths to avoid insulin injections in public or in the presence of others because they don't want to draw attention or face questions or judgment. If the fear to hide injections becomes too great, it could sway healthy decisions to control blood sugar appropriately and lead to complications.

4. Stigma-related stress: Some worry about how others perceive them and shield themselves from being labeled with diabetes. This stress can compound the negative impact to overall health and well-being.

Whether you or someone you care for has diabetes, check out the tools and resources at www.diabetes.org/tools-resources. It's essential to promote understanding and empathy, reducing the stigma associated with diabetes so that individuals can feel comfortable managing their health openly and seeking support when needed.