May 22, 2026 Living beyond the stigma of type 2 diabetes

When Amy Moore was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 25 years old, the news was life-changing, bringing both clarity and uncertainty. She now had an explanation for what she was experiencing in her body, and after doing some research, she was assured she could live well with this condition. But the diagnosis also came with an unexpected burden: the perception that she had caused this complex condition herself. 

Amy Moore hopes to bring more visibility to people living with type 2 diabetes.

The reality of living with type 2

Like many people living with type 2, Amy learned quickly that the condition is often treated socially—not just as a health issue, but as a personal failing. Simplistic assumptions were made about her weight, her food choices, and her lifestyle:

I faced every possible stigma that you can think of when I was first diagnosed. I was told, ‘You must have done it to yourself.’ ‘You must have drank 2 litres of pop a day, and you must have eaten all the junk food when you were a kid.’ No, I didn’t do that.

Amy is not alone in her experience. Based on Diabetes Canada’s Social Experiences of Living with Diabetes in Canada report, nearly 70% of respondents with type 2 diabetes have experienced blame and shame from others for their diagnosis. One quarter of respondents with type 2 reported having been told, like Amy, that they brought the condition on themselves. 

Understanding the complexity of diabetes

“Diabetes research has evolved our understanding of diabetes over decades, so that we understand it as a complex condition caused by a multitude of factors: age, genetics, ethnic background, gender, family history, income, food insecurity, the built environment, and more,” says Shusmita Rashid, Change the Conversation executive director. “Unfortunately, the general understanding of diabetes has not kept pace with scientific evidence.” 

Years after her diabetes diagnosis, Amy was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PMOS (formerly PCOS), which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Looking back, Amy believes that if she had gotten her PCOS diagnosis earlier, her health journey may have unfolded differently. Instead, she often had to take matters into her own hands and research on her own, push for referrals, and advocate for access to the education and support she needed. Carb counting, insulin use, and blood sugar trends were not clearly explained to her at the beginning. Much of what she knows about the condition now came through self-advocacy, lived experience, and persistence. 

Actively managing her diabetes 

Record keeping became one of the most important tools in helping Amy build confidence and take a more active role in managing her diabetes. It reduced her overwhelm and empowered her to make adjustments that supported her health. 

She tracks her blood glucose (sugar) levels from her continuous glucose monitor in a notebook she carries with her. In the morning, after meals, and at bedtime, she jots down her numbers, gathering insight into diabetes every day. Her practice helps her see patterns more clearly, and understand how food, insulin and hormones affect her body on different days and in different circumstances, such as when she is tired or feeling stressed. 

For Amy, those numbers reflect her lived reality—the daily decision making that she manages 24/7, 365 days a year. Diabetes management is not something she can simply put off until later or hide to make other people more comfortable. In social settings, even something as routine as preparing to eat can draw judgment and unwanted attention from people who do not understand what diabetes care requires. 

Once, someone suggested she should go into the bathroom to inject her insulin instead of managing her diabetes in public. Says Amy, “they said, ‘You don’t need that.’ Well, actually, yeah, I kind of do. I want to keep myself regulated.” 

The benefits of support

But Amy has a strong support system, especially her husband and members of her healthcare team. At work, her manager notices when she seems off, and coworkers also check in. There is even a snack box nearby for moments when Amy needs it. Her endocrinologist, too, has helped her feel seen as a person, not just a number on a chart. Those experiences stand in sharp contrast to the social stigma she has faced elsewhere, and they offer a powerful reminder of what people living with diabetes need: understanding, flexibility, and empathy. Support, Amy says, can make all the difference. 

Changing the conversation

Amy is sharing her story because she wants to help Diabetes Canada change the conversation around diabetes. By sharing her story and participating in events such as the Pump Couture Fashion Show in Regina, she hopes to bring more visibility to people living with type 2 diabetes, whose experiences are often overlooked or overshadowed by shame and blame. She wants to set an example: that people with type 2 can be confident, empowered in their diabetes management, and fully engaged in life. More than that, Amy wants people to stop assuming and start listening, and take action to support diabetes-inclusive environments. 

Diabetes Canada's Executive Director of Change the Conversation Shusmita Rashid

“Changing the conversation about diabetes isn’t abstract, it shows up in everyday moments,” says Shusmita. It’s choosing words that don’t blame, asking instead of assuming, and creating space for people to manage their diabetes without judgment, whether they are at home, refilling their prescription at pharmacy or engaging with their colleagues at their workplace. These small shifts in how we speak and act can fundamentally change someone’s experience of living with diabetes, from feeling judged to feeling supported.”

Did you know? 

You can support Diabetes Canada’s work to change the conversation around diabetes. Learn more and take our survey.