Remarkable female leaders from around the world featured in the #LancetWomen collection of profiles
Category: Language
The power of language: what is the evidence for changing the way we talk about diabetes?
The UK ‘Language Matters Working Group’ has reviewed the research on the importance of using positive language in diabetes care
By Eloise Litterbach
Changing the way we talk about complications: why language matters
Chris Aldred, AKA ‘The Grumpy Pumper’ visited the ACBRD to share his insights on the need to talk more often and more constructively about the complications of diabetes.
By Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott
Shining a light on the psychosocial impact of diabetes
In this special issue of Diabetic Medicine (June 2018), nine articles are devoted to the psychological, social and behavioural aspects of diabetes management.
By Dr Amelia Lake
‘The Language of Diabetes: The Good the Bad and the Ugly’ is among Diabetic Medicine’s top 20 most downloaded papers
Prof Jane Speight discusses the role of this impactful editorial in a growing global movement to improve #LanguageMatters in diabetes.
Do the words we use really matter to people living with diabetes?
A new US qualitative study has explored whether #LanguageMatters to people living with diabetes.
“When knowing is not enough”: The relationship between emotional distress, health literacy and diabetes management.
New research from Belgium shows diabetes distress and depression moderate the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-management.
By Jennifer Halliday
by Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott
A commentary on the effect of words on health and diabetes has been published in Diabetes Spectrum. The author, Dr Dickinson, states that despite a push towards person-centred care in diabetes, the terminology used to communicate with and about people with diabetes remains largely unchanged in practice and research. This terminology stems from the traditional medical model for acute care provision and lacks relevance in modern diabtes care. Words used to discuss diabetes and its management may be experienced as judgemental, foster feelings of self-blame and distress, and, in turn, discourage self-care behaviours and health care appointment attendance. Read more