Stigmatising language and its association with psychological outcomes among people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

This study examined the experiences of stigmatising language among adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in Ireland, and its associations with psychological outcomes using a cross-sectional design. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations between stigmatising language from family, friends, healthcare providers, the media and colleagues and higher anxious symptoms (β’s = 0.27–0.47, p’s <.001), depressive symptoms (β’s =0.25–0.42, p’s ≤ 0.002), and diabetes distress (β’s = 0.34–0.57, p’s < 0.001). Lower diabetes treatment satisfaction was significantly associated with stigmatising language from healthcare providers (β =−0.47, p < 0.001). Additionally, there were no significant associations between wellbeing and stigmatising language from any source (p’s > 0.002). These findings emphasise the importance of respectful communication to enhance psychosocial outcomes for people living with diabetes.