This weekend, in the Plaza de Callao (Madrid), Abbott has carried out a beautiful and much-needed initiative: a campaign to make visible the stigma that people with diabetes experience.They have set up an interactive circuit so that anyone can put themselves, even for a few minutes, in our shoes.
Because, although it is not always said, living with diabetes is not just counting carbohydrates or looking at blood glucose levels.It is also dealing with looks, prejudices and phrases that hurt more than they seem:
“Should you really eat that?”
“You asked for it.”
“Diabetics can't eat sweets.”
These phrases—so everyday—are heavy.And a lot.The campaign shows, even with biometric data, how comments like this generate physical stress reactions in us comparable to a job interview.
💔 70% of people with diabetes feel stigmatized.
💔 40% have avoided a doctor's appointment for fear of being judged.
💔 And 25% have hidden their diagnosis out of shame.
I myself have experienced moments like this: uncomfortable explanations at meals with friends, strange looks when I take out the sensor or meter... But I have also felt the opposite: support, understanding, empathy.And that changes everything.
That is why I think this initiative is so important.Because education and empathy are the best insulin against stigma.If we get more people to understand what it really means to live with diabetes, we will take a huge step towards a more respectful and inclusive society.
From here, thanks to all of us who are part of this community, let's continue talking, sharing and supporting each other.
🩵 Remember that this forum is maintained thanks to the sales of the book“Living with diabetes: The power of the online community”, a work that collects real experiences and the value of supporting each other.
👉 You can get it atamazonand, with your purchase, you will be directly helping this community continue to grow.
Greetings,
