Guilt and Diabetes: Why One Might Make the Other Worse

“Guilt” is the diabetes complication that no one talks about.

Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Updated on February 28, 2024

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It’s not uncommon for people with type 2 diabetes to struggle with feelings of guilt and shame. There’s a lot of stigma surrounding type 2 diabetes, and the general public is quick to blame people for their lifestyle choices. Not only is this unfair, but guilt and shame can actually make it harder for people to manage their diabetes. It creates a cycle that’s hard to break.

It’s true that lifestyle plays a big role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Your activity level, weight, and diet can affect your risk. However, that does not mean getting diabetes is a personal failing.

Additional Medical Contributors

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• Tara Kim, MDTara Kim, MD, is an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Diabetes: mental health.

Hill, J., et al. (2013). Understanding the social factors that contribute to diabetes: a means to informing health care and social policies for the chronically ill. The Permanente Journal.

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