With this initiative, the company wants to address misconceptions and stereotypes that weight heavily on the minds of those with diabetes. These can create yet another barrier to care, potentially preventing people from managing their health.
(You can read more about the initiative HERE.)
In an email Q&A, Dr. Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott’s Diabetes Care business and Dr. Susan Guzman, Behavioral Diabetes Institute co-founder, clinical psychologist, and diabetes specialist, explained some of the details of the initiative, along with what Abbott and others can do to address the biases associated with diabetes.
Dr. Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott Diabetes Care
Q: In your own words, please describe the purpose behind Abbott’s Above the Bias initiative and what the company hopes to get out of it.
A: When I was a practicing physician, I heard every day from my patients about the mental and physical toll diabetes takes on a person. But it was startling for me to learn from Abbott’s new survey that nearly 70% of people living with diabetes believe there is stigma associated with their condition, with another 40% skipping doctor’s appointments due to shame and stigma.
Everyone should watch the Above the Bias film so they can see the world from the perspective of someone living with diabetes. We can support people living with diabetes to get the care they need by removing the misconceptions and biases that are shown in the film.
Q: From the company’s perspective, what are some of the most significant barriers or biases that prevent people with diabetes from pursuing the care they need?
A: There are many barriers that can prevent people from getting care – from socioeconomic factors to access to care. But it’s the misconceptions and stereotypes around diabetes that can weigh heavily on the minds of people living with diabetes and unfortunately create one more barrier that Abbott found could prevent them from getting care they need to manage their health.
What is promising is that support can lead to progress. The same survey found that nearly 70% believe supportive comments boost their motivation to manage their diabetes.
Q: What are some things that Abbott has done in the past to address some of the fears and concerns of patients surrounding the stigmas that come with managing diabetes? The evolution of FreeStyle Libre devices into smaller, more discreet and easily managed systems would have had a positive impact on that, right?
A: Over the years, Abbott has supported the work of advocacy organizations to bring awareness to diabetes stigma. The Above the Bias initiative builds on the work that came before us with a goal to reach a broader audience. It starts first with raising awareness and encouraging empathy, which is what the film, survey, and other activations will do, and we’ll continue building on the initiative in the future.
We are also partnering with experts including Dr. Susan Guzman, a clinical psychologist specializing in the emotional and behavioral aspects of living with diabetes.
We’ve seen a great evolution in diabetes management with technical innovations and treatment advancements, but those alone won’t solve this issue. It’s going to take awareness, empathy, and education – that’s exactly what Above the Bias seeks to provide.
Dr. Susan Guzman, Behavioral Diabetes Institute co-founder, clinical psychologist and diabetes specialist
Q: What are some of the most significant societal factors contributing to the stigmas and misconceptions around diabetes that you hope this initiative addresses?
A: I’ve been a psychologist working with people with diabetes for more than 20 years and I’ve learned that many people don’t realize what diabetes stigma looks like, how much it can be harmful, or what they can do to help address it. I wanted to be a part of Abbott’s Above the Bias initiative to help everyone recognize that these biases exist and to empathize with those living with diabetes.
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, but diabetes is misunderstood, and that misunderstanding often leads to bias. Diabetes bias can come in many forms – a quick judgment, an uninformed opinion, or the punchline of a joke.
Q: Could you explain diabetes distress and some of the key takeaways from the studies you’ve helped develop that look at it?
A: Diabetes is a demanding disease that can take an emotional toll. Diabetes distress refers to the common worries, concerns, fears, and threats that are associated with managing diabetes. Diabetes stigma can contribute to elevated diabetes distress and can create additional barriers to managing diabetes effectively. I work with healthcare professionals to learn new strategies to help address emotional and behavioral obstacles to effective diabetes management. A more neutral, person-centered, judgment-free clinical interaction can help people with diabetes feel better understood and engaged with diabetes management.
Everyone – not just healthcare providers – have an important role in creating a more supportive and understanding environment for people living with diabetes. We all can help dismantle diabetes bias through self-awareness and finding ways to address it. Here are some tips:
- Use person-first language. Say “person with diabetes” instead of “diabetic” to recognize someone as an individual, not a diagnosis.
- Ask if there is anything you can do to be supportive of efforts to manage diabetes instead of making comments or passing judgement.
- Acknowledge and respect that diabetes management is a lot of work and each person’s experience of diabetes is unique.
Q: What are some of the things that Abbott (and other diabetes tech companies, for that matter) can do (in addition to initiatives like this) to help address stigmas and biases in diabetes management?
A: While nearly 1 in 6 American adults has diabetes, no one chooses to get diabetes and it’s certainly not their fault they have it. Feeling shame, fear, and judgement can push people away from effective diabetes management. People may be less open about having diabetes, hide their diabetes diagnosis, or not engage in diabetes management in front of others. This can impact self-esteem and add additional barriers. If we want people to have longer and healthier lives, we need to change the way we talk with and about people living with diabetes to create a more supportive, understanding, and helpful environment.
Initiatives like Abbott’s Above the Bias are critical because they help people become more curious about learning the real facts about diabetes and gives them the idea to stop and ask the people that they love who live with diabetes what they can do (and not do) to be more supportive of them.
