Take our survey on stigma and diabetes

Welcome to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) survey on stigma and discrimination.

IDF has developed this survey to better understand stigma and the types of discrimination people with diabetes and their carers can experience. It is important to understand the impact diabetes stigma and discrimination have on lives.

“Stigma” is an attitude or belief, while “discrimination” is the outcome of those attitudes or beliefs. Discrimination occurs when individuals or institutions unjustly deprive others of their rights and life opportunities due to stigma.

Stigma and discrimination are a fact of life for many people living with diabetes. Poor attitudes and actions about diabetes are caused by a lack of understanding of the disease. Stigma and discrimination take several forms, from well-intended but misinformed advice from friends and acquaintances to discrimination at school or in the workplace. Being rejected for marriage and opportunities for participation in the community are often the result of diabetes discrimination. Limited access to care and medicines as well as health insurance are particularly prevalent and dangerous for those unable to afford care otherwise.

The result can have detrimental consequences for a person with diabetes. If the negative beliefs are internalized, individuals may experience feelings of shame, anger, hopelessness or despair.  These feelings can keep people from seeking social support, employment or treatment. Empowering people, as well as their families and communities, in the care of their own diabetes and in diabetes prevention is critical for improving health.

The survey is open until 10 February 2019. Participation is completely voluntary and you may opt out of any question in the survey. All of your responses will be kept confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Preliminary findings will be available in April 2019.

You can participate by completing the survey directly in the window below (if the survey does not display, you can also access it here):

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