Diabetes Week - let's change how we talk about diabetes.

News - 11 June 2026

8 out of 10 people living with diabetes say they’ve faced negative attitudes because of their diabetes - people passing judgement, making sweeping statements, or blaming and shaming people living with diabetes.

This is diabetes stigma. And it causes real harm to millions.

We’re on a mission to ‘Strike Out Stigma’.

To show people that nobody chooses diabetes. That it isn’t anyone’s fault. And that by changing the way we talk about diabetes, together we can create a world where diabetes does no harm.

Diabetes Week takes place from 8 to 14 June 2026.

How to be a diabetes ally

Familiarise yourself with the condition:

Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. It can happen if your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces isn't effective. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are the most common types of diabetes, but other types of diabetes include gestational diabetes, type 3c, MODY and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). Diabetes is complex; there are many different types, and each type can be caused by multiple factors.

The reasons why diabetes develops in each person will be unique to them. Understanding the type of diabetes your loved one lives with and how it affects them day-to-day is important and could help your loved one to not feel that they need to educate everyone around them.

Be aware of diabetes biases and misconceptions.

There are many misconceptions about how diabetes is caused and how it is managed. This can add up to daily comments that blame and judge people with diabetes, from all corners of their life. Be aware of misconceptions you may hold and read up on the correct information.

Some of the most common misconceptions surround: Causes of diabetes The reasons why diabetes develops in each person will be unique to them. For type 2 diabetes, the risk factors include your genetics, ethnicity, age, bodyweight and where your body stores fat. For type 1 diabetes, the risk factors include your genetics and the way your immune system responds to certain environmental factors like viruses.

Offer practical support

Some people find it helpful to be offered help with their diabetes; some don’t. The key is to offer and to respect the individual’s wishes either way.

Some examples of how you could offer practical support include:

Offer to help keep active with them by walking or exercising together.
Helping prepare their tech, such as insulin pump cartridges.
Offering to drive them to eye screening appointments or other healthcare checks.
Keeping hypo (low blood sugar) treatments topped up and taking them with you out and about.
Helping with carb counting or finding healthy, nutritious recipes.
Speak up if you hear ignorant comments