Sabina joins the ACBRD for 3 months as an academic visitor to better understand and address diabetes stigma
We’re pleased to welcome Sabina Wagner as an academic visitor for three months. Sabina has travelled from Denmark to learn more about our work and to share her own research on the psychosocial impacts of diabetes, with a particular focus on stigma.
Below Sabina shares what she’s researching, why she’s visiting ACBRD, and what she loves about Australia so far.
Could you introduce yourself and your home institution?
I’m a PhD student with a background in sociology and public health. I have worked within research on psychosocial aspects of diabetes for quite a while. My PhD-project is situated at the Danish National Institute of Public Health, in the mental health research group, where my main supervisor, Martin Marchman Andersen is Associate Professor. Bryan Cleal, Kasper Olesen from Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, as well as Ingrid Willaing are all co-supervisors.
What is the primary focus of your research? And what inspired you to pursue it?
My project focuses on the stigmatisation of people with type 2 diabetes, the role of high weight, and how we, within healthcare, can work to address this stigma. In previous roles, as a student assistant and research assistant, I have been involved in many different projects relating to T2D management and its impact on life. In nearly all projects, stigma (or related concepts such as shame) have been a theme, but never the main character. When a lived experience panel expressed their interest in this topic, it was clear that we had to do something about it.
Why did you choose the ACBRD for your visit?
Given my answer to the previous question, this should almost be a no-brainer. The ACBRD is where a lot of research on diabetes stigma, including the first conceptualisation of diabetes stigma, originates, and their perspectives are very valuable. I also really admire their commitment to community engagement and advocacy, which I hope to learn from.
What do you hope to achieve or learn by the end of your stay?
First and foremost, I hope to have gained valuable insights for my current studies. I also hope to have gained future collaborators, ideas for future research and how to advance my own community engagement efforts.
What has been the biggest difference between your home institution and ours?
In my own research group, we have a great Stigma Study Group, but I am the only one working specifically with diabetes. It has been great at the ACBRD to have a mutual understanding of the topic we are discussing and seeing how closely connected the Centre are to community living with diabetes.
What has been the most enjoyable about your stay so far?
It has been very enjoyable just coming to the office and being so warmly welcomed. Everyone has been so nice and supportive, and seem genuinely interested in my work and wellbeing. So thank you!
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working on research?
I enjoy spending time with my family – I am here with my two kids (2 and 4 years old), my husband and our full-time “volunteer nannies” (aka my parents). We love to explore nature, going camping and hiking etc. So, I am very excited to see more of the beautiful nature that you have here in Victoria. This weekend we went on The Great Ocean Road, hiking in the Otway forest, seeing waterfalls and spotting koalas – amazing experience.
How do you see this international experience shaping your future research?
I hope it will improve my international network and in that sense broaden my perspective in future projects, I also think it will broaden my perspective in terms of how to collaborate effectively with the community.
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