Our language matters: Improving communication with and about people with diabetes. A position statement by diabetes Australia
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
The words used about diabetes affect the physical and emotional health of people living with diabetes. They also affect how individuals and society view people living with, or at risk of, diabetes. People with diabetes, their families, and people at risk of diabetes, need and deserve communications that are clear and accurate, respectful and inclusive, and free from judgement and bias. The aim of this position statement is to help bring about positive change in the language used about diabetes. It is based on 30+ years of research into the experiences of people with diabetes. Changing the language of diabetes can make a powerful and positive difference to the emotional well-being, self-care and health outcomes of people affected by diabetes. It also affects community and government support for funding diabetes care, prevention and research. Diabetes Australia encourages everyone communicating about diabetes, or about people affected by diabetes, to choose and use their words carefully to support all people affected by diabetes. This position statement is intended as a guide for people working in healthcare, the media, government and policy, academia, industry, as well as employers and the community. It may also be helpful for the family and friends of people with diabetes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 108655 |
| Journal | Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice |
| Volume | 173 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| ISSN | 0168-8227 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
Changing the language of diabetes can make a powerful and positive difference to the emotional well-being, self-care and health outcomes of people affected by diabetes. It also affects community and government support for funding diabetes care, prevention and research.
Funding Information:
This work was supported with funding from Diabetes Australia. This position statement was prepared:, - in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), a partnership for better health between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. The ACBRD supported the design and analysis of our survey and provided valuable feedback on earlier drafts of this statement. In particular, we thank: Dr Shikha M Gray, Jennifer Halliday, Dr Christel Hendrieckx, and Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott. - in consultation with: Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Australian Diabetes Society, Diabetes NSW&ACT, Diabetes Queensland, Diabetes Tasmania, and Diabetes Victoria. - in response to the feedback received from 751 participants in our online survey (2019). We thank the people with diabetes in Australia, and internationally, who have been enthused by our original (2011) position statement, have inspired the current version, and who continue to inspire us every day. In preparing this position statement, we have drawn upon the following sources, which we recommend as further reading:, - American Association of Diabetes Educators. Speaking the Language of Diabetes: New Language Guidance for Diabetes-related Research, Education and Publications. - Cooper A, Kanumilli N, Hill J et al. Language matters. Addressing the use of language in the care of people with diabetes: position statement of the English Advisory Group. Diabet Med, 2018; 35(12): 1630-1634. - Dickinson J, Guzman SJ, Maryniuk MD et al. The use of language in diabetes care and education. Diabetes Care, 2017; 40(12): 1790-1799. - Diversity Council of Australia. Words at Work ? Building Inclusion Through the Power of Language. - Funnell MM, Anderson RM. The problem with compliance in diabetes. JAMA, 2000; 284(13): 1704. - Holt RIG, Speight J. The language of diabetes: the good, the bad and the ugly. Diabetic Med, 2017; 34(11): 1495-1497. - Mytonomy. Changing the Conversation Can Change How People Feel. - Scibilia R, Aldred C. #TalkAboutComplications. BMJ, 2019; 364:k5258 doi: 10.1136/bmj.k5258. - Sogg S, Grupski A, Dixon JB. Bad words: why language counts in our work with bariatric patients. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 2018; 682-692. - Speight J, Conn J, Dunning T, Skinner TC on behalf of Diabetes Australia. Diabetes Australia position statement: A new language for diabetes: improving communications with and about people with diabetes. Diab Res Clin Pract, 2012; 97(3): 425?431.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
- Communication, Diabetes, Emotional well-being, Language, Self-care, Stigma
Research areas
ID: 275519820