Chris Aldred, United Kingdom

The Grumpy Pumper Diabetes Advocate
Chris was diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes in 1994 at the age of 25. Fifteen years later he attended his first structure Diabetes event in the form a sports weekend which was also attended by 49 other people with Type1 Diabetes. The formal education sessions taught Chris more about his diabetes than he had learnt in years since his diagnosis. The experience of spending time with other people with diabetes was invaluable. Motivated to focus more on his own Diabetes management Chris joined social media groups and started to blog as “The Grumpy Pumper”. He firmly believes that the power of social media and the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) can help to motivate and support people with Diabetes to manage their Diabetes the way that they want to in order to achieve the Quality of Life that they desire. In 2016 he was diagnosed with a diabetes related complication and quickly realised that the blame, shame and stigma associated complications was stopping people with Diabetes talking freely about such things. Since then he has been working to remove the stigma under the campaign of #TalkAboutComplications.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

Do you think you should have looked after yourself better? - language and complications

Session Name
PARALLEL SESSION 06: SOCIAL MEDIA - WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT
Session Type
PARALLEL SESSION
Date
20.02.2020, Thursday
Session Time
16:40 - 18:00
Channel
Madrid
Lecture Time
16:40 - 17:00
Presenter
Authors

Abstract

Background and Aims / Part 1

Do you think you should have looked after yourself better?’ For many people with diabetes, this question is posed once they are diagnosed with a diabetes-related complication, suggesting they are to blame.

Diabetes-related complications are a reality for many people living with diabetes. Attitudes that blame and shame people who have developed a complication are harmful and contribute to the stigma associated with living with diabetes.

The words and language used about diabetes-related complications often focus on prevention. This suggests that there is a guarantee to stop complications from happening and therefore, people with diabetes who do develop complications have not done enough

We believe that re-positioning the conversation to focus on risk reduction changes the conversation and will help people with diabetes feel less blamed if they do develop complications.

When we recalibrate the manner in which we speak about diabetes away from an emphasis on personal responsibility, we move from people feeling blame and guilt to feeling supported.

The stigma around such complications is significant and the blame and shame of poor language adds to this stigma. This session seeks to suggest alternative ways to speak about complications in a manner that will not scare, blame or shame people with diabetes. If people with diabetes are not comfortable talking about the more challenging aspects of diabetes, such as complications, they are less likely to access information or seek the swift treatment required for best outcomes. .

Methods / Part 2

This session seeks to suggest alternative ways to talk about complications with PWD in a manner that will not scare, blame shame them. If PWD are not comfortable talking about these things they are less likely to get the education that they need or see the swift treatment required.

Results / Part 3

More constructive conversations between PWD and HCP leading to better education and outcomes.

Conclusions / Part 4

Language Matters and can help with better outcomes for PWD.

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