More understanding will help everyone

The issue of diabetes discrimination needs to be dealt with urgently for two reasons – the first being that those with diabetes do not need the added burden of shame and blame; they typically have enough on their plate just managing their condition. As the 2018 Diabetes Care Review found, nearly half (45 per cent) often felt ‘down’ or ‘depressed’ and nearly 1 in 3 ‘lonely’ or ‘socially isolated’ because of their diabetes. The second reason this issue needs to be addressed is that if the community’s thinking doesn’t change there’s a danger that not enough will be done to assist those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes both now and in the future.