Global Summit Aims to End Diabetes Stigma: Be Part of the Movement

Why Diabetes Stigma Must End

Diabetes stigma refers to the negative social judgments, stereotypes, and discrimination faced by people with diabetes. It affects mental health, self-care, employment, relationships, and overall quality of life. It can also reduce public and government support for research, prevention, and clinical care.

• According to the International Diabetes Federation, 589 million people worldwide are living with diabetes
• 4 in 5 people living with diabetes report experiencing stigma
• Almost 1 in 3 report experiencing outright discrimination

Stigma is a major barrier to progress—and it must be addressed and removed to improve outcomes for people with diabetes.

From Consensus to Action

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology reported that 51 experts from 18 countries developed a global consensus based on 49 evidence-based recommendations to end diabetes stigma and discrimination, which led to the launch of the international Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma on World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2023.

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So far, over 3,500 individuals and organizations in 111 countries have endorsed the pledge.

“Diabetes stigma and discrimination are harmful, unacceptable, unethical and counterproductive. Global leadership is needed to take action, challenge stigma and bring it to an end,” wrote Speight, Holmes-Truscott, Garza, Scibilia and colleagues in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Be Part of the Change 

The 2026 Summit builds on the global consensus and pledge to drive change across healthcare, workplaces, education, and society. Attendees will share:

• Groundbreaking research
• Success stories
• Innovative partnerships
• Indicators of real-world progress

Program details and registration will be announced soon.

Take the Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma

By taking the pledge, you are committing to:

• Respecting people with all types of diabetes
• Recognizing that diabetes stigma exists and has harmful impacts
• Acknowledging and challenging your own prejudices about people with diabetes
• Using accurate, respectful, inclusive, non-judgmental, and strengths-based language, messaging, and imagery
• Avoiding and challenging fear-based messaging and imagery
• Condemning discrimination due to diabetes and advocating for equal treatment and support
• Encouraging initiatives, policies, and laws that promote equity for all people with diabetes

Sign the pledge today—it’s available in 17 languages, with more to come.

A Proud Australian Initiative

This global movement was launched in Australia by Professor Jane Speight, Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), a joint initiative of  Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. Professor Speight also chairs the international PsychoSocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD) Study Group and is a world-renowned expert in behavioral diabetes research.

Who’s Behind the Summit?

The Summit is organized by the ACBRD and supported by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), with additional backing from dStigmatize (a program of The diaTribe Foundation). An international Steering Committee of 15 independent experts from nine countries ensures global reach and credibility.

Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved. Whether you attend, speak, advocate, exhibit, or sponsor, your participation helps drive the global effort to end diabetes stigma. Every role plays a part in building a future where people with diabetes are respected, understood, and supported.

According to enddiabetesstigma.com, there are many ways to contribute:

• Apply to speak or exhibit
• Sign the petition
• Become a sponsor
• Share the campaign
• Attend the Summit

Support and Sponsorship

The summit is actively seeking sponsors. Your support will help shape a stigma-free future for people living with diabetes.

Sponsors and partners benefit from aligning with a transparent, community-led global movement that is committed to equity, inclusion, and real-world impact.

For sponsorship and partnership opportunities, contact Professor Jane Speight at jspeight@acbrd.org.au

For general information, email the organizing team at EndDiabetesStigma@deakin.edu.au

A Vision for a Future Free from Diabetes Stigma

A world without diabetes stigma and discrimination is not just a dream—it’s an achievable goal.

This future will be built through the efforts of individuals, communities, healthcare providers, researchers, organizations, and governments.

In this world:

• People with diabetes are met with respect, compassion, and support in every aspect of their lives—free from blame, shame, or judgment
• Accurate, evidence-based information replaces myths, assumptions, and harmful stereotypes
• Healthcare systems, educational institutions, and workplaces are inclusive and supportive
• Everyone living with or at risk of diabetes has access to the treatments, technology, and support they need to live well
• The media and public understand the genetic, environmental, social, biological, and behavioral factors that shape the course of diabetes
• Stigma is no longer a barrier to investment in prevention, care, research, or potential cures

Ending diabetes stigma is essential to advancing public health, equity, and innorvation. Together, we can build a more just and inclusive world—one where no one is held back by the weight of stigma.