A misplaced word, a look, a joke can be enough to weaken an already precarious balance. To break this wall of incomprehension, Abbott launches the campaign
#DiabetesAndPrejudicesa collective initiative to change the way we look at diabetes and give voice to those who are too little heard.
“You don’t look like you have diabetes”: when words hurt more than they heal
“I heard it could be avoided.”“You don’t look like you have diabetes“, “One dessert won’t kill you“… These sentences, often pronounced without malice, nevertheless reflect a profound ignorance of the disease. According to a study carried out by Abbott among more than 2,600 people in eight countries, including France, nearly 70%
of them affirm that the diabetes-related prejudices are a reality.
These stereotypes, sometimes relayed by the media or social networks, reinforce a feeling of isolation. 85%
of those interviewed say they have seen inaccurate information about diabetes in movies, shows or online, and 40% believe that the disease is often ridiculed. This biased view weighs heavily:
one in four people prefers to keep his diagnosis quiet, even from those close to him.
“Better knowledge of diabetes is essential to deconstruct the prejudices linked to this disease, because misinformation is often at the origin of the stigmatization of diabetes. Very often, this stigma remains invisible, leading to a significant impact on physical and mental health. It is therefore essential to break the silence around the stigma of diabetes in order to allow people living with this condition to access the care they need.”underlines the Professor Alfred Penfornishead of department at the South Paris Hospital Center (CHSF).
Shame, an invisible barrier to care
The consequences of these prejudices go beyond simple social unease. They are reflected in care behaviors:
40% of people living with diabetes
declare having ever canceled or missed a medical appointment out of shame or fear of judgment. An alarming data which reveals to what extent the views of others can influence health itself.
Because diabetes, often wrongly perceived as the result of a “lack of will”, is a complex, multifactorial chronic disease, which requires rigor, vigilance and support. Behind the stigma, there is often guilt, that of not “doing well”, of not “being a good patient”. A heavy mental load, invisible, but very real.
When kindness becomes care
Fortunately, words can also mend. The study shows that
70% of those surveyed believe that
kind and encouraging words from those around them considerably strengthen their motivation to better manage their illness.
It is precisely on this conviction that the campaign is based
#DiabetesAndPrejudiceslaunched by Abbott. Through a video and a national awareness campaign, she invites everyone to “see the world through the eyes of a person living with diabetes”. The company relies on a large network of stakeholders – patient associations, healthcare professionals, specialized organizations – to build a common discourse: inclusive, informed and devoid of judgment.
“In France, we have been involved for many years alongside people living with diabetes, healthcare professionals and patient associations. (…) Today, we continue our fight with this #DiabeteEtPrejudices awareness campaign. No one should experience diabetes-related stigma!”declares Philippe EmeryPresident of Abbott France and Managing Director of the Diabetes division.
Beyond the gaze: a social issue
Behind this campaign, a whole social question is emerging: that of the right to be sick without being judged. Diabetes, like other chronic illnesses, questions our relationship to responsibility, to the body, and to collective goodwill. By breaking clichés, this campaign opens the way to fairer speech, where understanding replaces stigma. Because when it comes to health, words can sometimes carry as much weight as treatments?