'People tell us they feel blamed or made to feel their diabetes is their fault'

MILLIONS of people with diabetes are facing stigma, blame and unhelpful stereotyping, the UK's leading charity for the disease warns.

- BY HANNA GEISSLER Health Editor

Amelia Trencher was diagnosed at 18

A major survey of 1,608 adults with the condition found 86% with Type 1 diabetes and 75% with Type 2 had experienced blame or judgment.

More than half of people with Type 1 said some people think they need insulin because they have not looked after themselves, while a similar proportion with Type 2 had experienced negativity around the condition being a “lifestyle disease”.

Charity Diabetes UK, which commissioned the research, today launches a “Strike Out Stigma” campaign on World Diabetes Day.

STIGMA

It is urging everyone to challenge misconceptions and help ensure the 12 million Britons who have diabetes or prediabetes are treated with empathy and respect.