How you can win

Here are three ways to help break the shame cycle:

1

RESPOND, DON’T REACT.

If your medical professionals are judgemental, consider switching. Realise that you’re in a system that creates shame. Change your mind about how you’re going to see that system.

2 THINK ABOUT HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR BEHAVIOUR AND WHY.

“All people with a chronic health condition need to learn about their condition, seek medical advice, education and treatment and have a health care team that work together to help best manage the condition,” says Rachel Freeman of Australian Diabetes Educators Association. “Diabetes can be thought of in the same way. Acceptance and good management is the path to remaining healthy and there is support to help.”

3

SEEK SUPPORT.

“Surround yourself with people who know your deeper motivation to change, who aren’t critical, and who are open enough in your relationship with them so that when they do act in a shaming way, you can approach them and tell them why what they’re saying is counterproductive,” says Ann Goebel-Fabbri, a psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston in the US.