Lived experience with diabetes stigma – Shannon

Shame and stigma is real!

I recall often feeling a sense of failure and shame around my body and my diabetes management when I was not achieving ‘ideal numbers’.

It is easy to be consumed by numbers living with type 1 diabetes. Monitoring blood glucose levels all day, every day. Because diabetes is invisible, there is often a misconception that it is as simple as taking insulin and eating (or not eating) certain foods, but this is far from true. People living with type 1 diabetes make between 180 - 300 extra decisions each day to navigate their blood glucose levels. Whenever I want to eat, exercise, sleep, drive - do anything in fact - many, often complex, calculations and decisions need to be made. It can also be very unpredictable - so what worked yesterday with my insulin doses and management strategy may not work today, as there are many things impacting my blood glucose levels that I am unaware of.

For many years I did not make space for diabetes in my life, I tried my best to avoid dealing with the daily highs and lows (both literally and figuratively speaking!) but, of course, running away from diabetes did not serve me and eventually I knew things needed to change, so I reached out for support. What I have learned since then and continue to work on each day, is to not let numbers define me and know that doing my best is always enough. I have learnt to make space around the numbers, because while they provide me with important information, there are many more meaningful and important things in my life. Like being present with my friends and family, singing, eating foods that I love and moving my body in ways that bring me joy.

I am very proud of who I am and the incredible things I have achieved these past 33 years, with diabetes along for the ride. I have travelled solo overseas many times, lived in different states and countries, performed on stage in musical theatre productions and bands, completed many years of study to now be working in a wonderful role at Diabetes Victoria!

Although I know managing diabetes will never be easy, every day it provides me with a unique opportunity to grow stronger, wiser, more compassionate, and I am grateful for that. Not to mention the amazing diabetes community I am connecting with! If you are living with any type of diabetes, I want you to know how amazing you are, rising to the challenges you face each day. We are so much more than our diabetes and those numbers, we are stronger than we know, and we are in this together.

​​​​​​​If you are experiencing diabetes stigma, there are NDSS diabetes and emotional health factsheets, peer support groups and our advocacy team to help with social and emotional wellbeing, these are some of the handy resources available for looking after your emotional health...

You can read more about diabetes stigma on our campaign website, Think again. Let’s reduce diabetes stigma.