If you have type 2 diabetes, you are managing a chronic condition that can cause serious problems.

You may also be stigmatized.

“Stigma is built on false beliefs. The people who think the stigma is related to a condition or issue probably don’t have the facts to make an informed conclusion.”

According to 2017 research, stigma around type 2 diabetes can cause people to feel excluded, rejected, or blamed for having the condition.

“Stigma can be seen as well. You may feel bad about your condition or feel bad about yourself because you didn’t do the right things to manage it.”

Feelings can affect your mental health. They can make it difficult to manage type 2 diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes may face stigma from a number of sources.

According to a 2017 study of 1,572 people with type 1 diabetes and 3,850 people with type 2 diabetes, the most common cause of stigma is the belief that diabetes is a character flaw or personal failure.

There’s a misconception that people with type 2 diabetes brought it upon themselves by being lazy, having obesity, or eating an “unhealthy” diet.

The study found that people with difficulty managing diabetes have the highest stigma. People with a high body mass index or A1C are more likely to be stigmatized.

If you are not meeting your blood sugar goals, you may be blamed for it, and if you need to change your medication, you may be blamed as well. You may feel like you failed.

“Diet changes and Exercise. can help you with type 2 diabetes. The stigma of type 2 diabetes is caused by the blame and shame mentality that assumes you haven’t eaten right or Exercise.d enough.”

Some factors that affect diabetes management are not yours to control.

The steps you take to manage diabetes may not always work because of the condition. You may need to change your treatment plan over time.

“Sometimes diabetes is resistant to treatment. You can do everything according to your doctor’s instructions, but you won’t get the results you’re looking for.”

You can hit your A1C target and reduce your chance of problems. People swayed by stigma may not understand the work you have done or the progress you have made.

Myths are ideas that are often wrong. Stigma can be caused by myths.

Myth: People cause their diabetes by making poor choices

Bodyweight and activity level are only part of the reason some people develop type 2 diabetes. Research shows that Genetics also play a significant role.

Family history is a bigger factor in the development of type 2 diabetes than it is in type 1 diabetes. If you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, your chance of having it increases.

Race is a part of the equation. White people are more likely to have diabetes. type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur

  • African Americans are mixed race.
  • Asian Americans.
  • Alaska Natives.
  • People of Hispanic origin.
  • American Indians are from the United States.
  • Pacific Islanders are from the Pacific.
  • Native Hawaiians.

Age is also related to an increased chance of type 2 diabetes. Although it’s possible for children to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it’s significantly more likely to occur in people over 45 years old.

If you’ve had an organ transplant, the medication you need to take may also cause type 2 diabetes. It’s estimated that 10 to 40 percent of people who’ve had an organ transplant eventually develop diabetes.

Excess body weight may be linked to type 2 diabetes, but it may be due to other causes.

  • Under active thyroid.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition.
  • There is a syndrome called Cushing syndrome.
  • Genetics

There are many reasons that a person may not have a good lifestyle.

Myth: It’s your fault if your blood sugar level isn’t in your target range

Some of the time, you can be able to control your blood sugar with the help of factors that affect it. These include:

  • diet
  • Exercise.
  • hydration
  • It is oral medication.
  • Therapy for diabetes.
  • sleep schedule

These controllable elements can present challenges.

Not everyone has access to healthy, affordable food. Some people have medical conditions that make Exercise. more challenging. The cost of diabetes medications and supplies can be prohibitive.

Life events can change your sleep schedule.

Other factors can affect your blood sugar levels, which may be out of your control. Some of these include.

  • hormones
  • Stress.
  • Illness.
  • The dawn phenomenon.
  • There are allergies.
  • menstruation
  • puberty
  • The temperature outside.
  • insomnia

It can be difficult to keep in range of blood sugar for people with diabetes.

Myth: People with type 2 diabetes need insulin because they haven’t managed diabetes well enough

Diabetes stigma is particularly high among those who take insulin. This may be due, in part, to the misconception that needing to take insulin means you’ve failed at managing type 2 diabetes.

There is a progressive condition of type 2 diabetes. The treatment that worked may not be enough to manage your blood sugar as time goes on.

Some people with type 2 diabetes will need to use the drug eventually. Everyone has their own disease progression. Whether you need to use the drug may not have anything to do with how well you have managed your condition.

If you’ve ever felt like type 2 diabetes is taking a toll on your mental health, you’re not alone. Stigma and the shame and blame associated with it can cause people living with diabetes to feel Stress. and depression.

It may cause other emotions.

  • guilt
  • anxiety
  • fear
  • embarrassment
  • low self-esteem.

In addition to having mental health effects, stigma can interfere with how well you manage diabetes. Research links self-stigma for both bodyweight and diabetes to a negative impact on diabetes self-care.

It is possible that feeling stigmatized will make you less likely to take the steps needed to manage type 2 diabetes. You might not want to check your blood sugar or pump when you are with other people.

If you injectinsulin while others can watch, you might feel self-conscious, which could lead to skipping or delaying your dose.

If you have ever felt like a healthcare professional888-607-ally888-607-ally888-607-ly888-607-ly, you might be tempted to delay important checks like A1C tests, eye exams, or bloodwork to assess your overall health.

People with diabetes are more likely to have depression and anxiety than those without the condition.

You may also experience diabetes burnout. This occurs when you feel Stress.ed, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained by the daily care required to manage diabetes.

Stigma and the feelings of shame and blame can affect your mental and emotional health.

If you are concerned about the impact of diabetes on your mental health, you should ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional.

They may recommend therapy to help you deal with the mental and emotional challenges of living with diabetes. They may prescribe medication to help treat depression.

“The first step to overcoming stigma is to know that it exists and that it is based on inaccurate information. If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s not your fault.”

You will get a better idea of how you can support your health and self-care as you learn more about type 2 diabetes.

Whether it is in person or online, there is tremendous value in connecting with others who have similar experiences. You have the chance to meet new people.

You can consider joining the American Diabetes Association’s online support community or visit diaTribe’s dStigmatize page for more information and resources.

Stigma around type 2 diabetes can make you feel guilty about having the condition. This can affect your mental health and make it harder to manage the condition.

Finding ways to overcome stigma can help improve your mental health. Talking with a mental health professional can help if you are uneducated about the condition.