Breaking stigma within us: the role of people with type 1 diabetes in overcoming diabetes-related stigma

This study explored the strategies to overcome type 1 diabetes-related stigma at the individual level in Iran. This paper is part of the findings of an action research study, which was designed in Iran in 2012 to plan and implement a program for overcoming diabetes-related stigma. Participants were 44 people with type 1 diabetes. Unstructured in-depth interviews, focus groups, email, short message service (SMS) and telephone interview was used to extract strategies to overcome the diabetes-related stigma. Due to the qualitative nature of the data in this phase of the action research, data were analyzed using inductive content analysis approach. Findings showed that in the viewpoint of people with diabetes, their behaviors and reactions are important factors in their resistance to diabetes-related stigma, reducing social stigma, and avoiding its harmful effects. They referred to the interconnected strategies as disease acceptance, accepting social stigma, reinforcing spirituality, enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence, effective self-care activities, and forming real and distant groups. Individual interventions are important steps to initiate overcoming diabetes-related stigma, and social activities will not be successful without them. They are much more economical and more practical than social level measures. These findings can help healthcare teams to integrate anti-stigma strategies in their routine care plan to reduce stigma as well as providing diabetes management.