Living Well with Type 1 Diabetes - Breaking the Stigma

Living Well with Type 1 Diabetes - Breaking the Stigma

By Donna Price, Clinical Manager for Community Dietetics at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

As Diabetes Awareness Day arrives, I wanted to take a moment to share a little of my own story, not as a healthcare professional, but as someone who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 33 years.

And I pick those words carefully: I don’t “suffer from diabetes.” I live with it. It’s part of who I am, something I accepted a long time ago. And with acceptance comes peace.

Unfortunately, diabetes is still widely misunderstood, and stigma is something many of us with the condition continue to face, often born from a simple lack of awareness. So, I’d like to help “burst a few bubbles.”

Myth 1: Type 1 Diabetes is ‘the bad type’

There’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” type of diabetes. Using that kind of language is unhelpful and, frankly, hurtful. Type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by external lifestyle factors, it’s an autoimmune condition where the body stops producing insulin. No amount of sugar or salad could have changed that.

Myth 2: People with diabetes shouldn’t eat certain foods

One of the most common and frustrating comments people with diabetes hear is, “Should you be eating that?”

Trust me, people living with diabetes are usually far more aware of how food affects their blood glucose levels than anyone around them. Personally, hearing that kind of comment only makes me want to eat double the portion, just to prove a point!

Technology and confidence

Type 1 diabetes management has come a long way in recent years. Many of us now use continuous glucose monitoring sensors and insulin pumps - technology that allows us to manage our condition far more effectively than ever before.

When I first considered wearing a glucose sensor, I hesitated. The thought of having something visible on my body made me worry about how others might react. Would people stare? Would I constantly be asked about it?

In the end, the benefits for my glucose control outweighed my worries. And now, most of the time, I forget I’m even wearing it - until someone stops me to ask, “What’s that on your arm?”

I’ve learned to take those moments as opportunities to educate and raise awareness. But I know that for some, those questions can feel intrusive or uncomfortable. So if you see someone wearing a device like a sensor or a pump - please don’t stare or ask. You never know how much courage it took for them to wear it.

A final thought

Living with Type 1 diabetes can be challenging, yes - but it doesn’t define who I am. It’s simply one part of me. What I hope most for this Diabetes Awareness Day is that we all take a moment to challenge the stereotypes, learn a little more, and show understanding instead of judgement.

Because when we replace stigma with empathy, everyone living with diabetes can live a little more freely - and that’s something worth celebrating.