Why do we need to change the conversation around diabetes?
Diabetes stigma is real, and it’s harmful.
The way we talk about diabetes shapes how people feel, how they are treated, and whether they get the support they need.
Too often, conversations about diabetes include blame, judgment, or misinformation - leading to stigma, unfair attitudes and stereotypes that harm people living with diabetes.
How do we know?
In our Social Experiences of Living with Diabetes in Canada report (2024), we found that:
People have experienced blame or shame for having diabetes.
People have experienced diabetes distress.
People with diabetes have been treated differently because of their diabetes.
People never or rarely ask for support to help manage their diabetes when they need it.
Why is stigma so harmful?
Unfortunately, myths, misinformation, and stigma around diabetes exist in our healthcare, school, workplace and government systems.
It harms mental health and makes diabetes harder to manage, leading to worse health outcomes for people living with diabetes.
It shapes negative experiences in healthcare, workplaces, and communities, affecting participation in everyday life.
It deepens inequities in access to and affordability of care.
It wrongly frames diabetes as a personal failure instead of a shared societal responsibility to reshape public understanding and normalize life with diabetes.
How do we change the conversation?
As part of our strategic priorities, Diabetes Canada and our partners aim to change the values, belief and language around diabetes through our Change the Conversation initiative.
Change the Conversation elevates the lived experiences of people with diabetes to mobilize knowledge and innovative programs that change how Canadians perceive, communicate, and act on diabetes.
Our goal?
This national initiative is about creating a Canada where people living with diabetes are treated with dignity, empathy and respect, and feel safe to seek care, ask for support and live fully without blame or judgment.
How are we driving change?
Hear from people living with diabetes.
Creating More Supportive Diabetes Care
Reducing diabetes stigma in healthcare settings will help ensure care is more respectful, compassionate and person-centred.
Through practical tools and learning resources, we help healthcare professionals:
- Recognize how stigma can show up in care
- Use respectful, person-centred language that puts people before diagnoses
- Replace assumptions with curiosity and empathy
- Incorporate supportive, stigma-free practices into everyday care
Building Supportive Workplace for People with Diabetes
Through Change the Conversation, Diabetes Canada partners with employers to:
- Use person-centred language that respects the experiences of people living with diabetes
- Strengthen workplace policies and practices that promote inclusion and psychological safety
- Equip leaders and teams with the knowledge and tools to respond with empathy and understanding
- Foster workplace cultures where people living with diabetes feel seen, valued and supported
- ‘Changing the conversation’ around diabetes stigma in the workplace
From Conversation to Global Action on Diabetes Stigma
As part of its commitment to reducing diabetes stigma, Diabetes Canada has signed the International Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma, joining thousands of individuals and organizations working worldwide to challenge stigma and discrimination faced by people living with diabetes.
Through Change the Conversation, Diabetes Canada has been invited to share its insights on the global stage, contributing Canadian perspectives and learning to help move from awareness to real-world change.
Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma
Jaipur, India; March 2026
Diabetes Canada joined more than 200 participants from over 40 countries and shared our insights from Change the Conversation.
As a summit sponsor, Diabetes Canada was proud to highlight Canada's leadership in reducing diabetes stigma and supporting Canadians with lived experience in sharing their voices as part of a growing global movement for change.
Discover how we’re engaging at the Summit:
Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma
Jaipur, India; March 2026
Diabetes Canada joined more than 200 participants from over 40 countries and shared our insights from Change the Conversation.
As a summit sponsor, Diabetes Canada was proud to highlight Canada's leadership in reducing diabetes stigma and supporting Canadians with lived experience in sharing their voices as part of a growing global movement for change.
Discover how we’re engaging at the Summit:
Share your perspective. Help change the conversation about diabetes
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