I have type 1 diabetes. I'm also a mum, a northerner who has made my home in south east London, a health policy geek, and an avid Radio 4 listener. So it troubles me to be referred to as a "diabetic" or for people with diabetes in general to be called "diabetics." Although this does not bother everyone, I feel this reduces me to being someone with diabetes and nothing more.
Since developing type 1 diabetes as an adult I have realised that once you have a long term condition there are certain things you can come to expect. One is always to be referred to as a patient, regardless of what role you are in at the time. Another is that you are no longer allowed to belong in the category of people described as healthy, however well you feel in yourself and however active you are. It's as though at the point of diagnosis you pass over an invisible line and are never allowed to cross back.
I would like to be identified as a person first and not as a "diabetic patient." This means not having assumptions made about me or about what might be important to me because of my condition and not making one of the first questions I'm asked my most recent HbA1c result.
I've always been interested in the meaning and interpretation of words and language. Language can convey meaning, and shape understanding. It can stigmatise and label or it can empower and affirm. The language used by healthcare professionals, the media, and others can make a big difference to how I feel about having a long term condition.
It's important to me to think that I can determine how I integrate diabetes into my life. Living with type 1 diabetes requires mental agility combined with resilience, stamina, perspective, and a healthy sense of humour, so state of mind is everything and language plays a big part in that.
It may seem overly precious to be so concerned about language in the overall scheme of things. However, as a healthcare professional, reflecting on and reframing the language you use while still making sure you get the information you need could make a big difference to how the people in front of you see themselves and their condition—and how they see you.
Think about the language you use when you are referring to or writing about people with diabetes or other long term conditions—would they find the language you have used empowering or disempowering?
What other examples of conditions or situations might this topic of language also be important to?
When quantifiable biomarkers are part of condition management, how else could you talk about them?
How might you get feedback from patients on the language you use?
How could you change the language you use to empower and support patients with long term conditions to achieve their goals?
These questions were developed by the editors and reviewed by the patient author.