Media Matters: How Representation Shapes Diabetes Perception
- t2diabetesnetwork
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
Key Highlights:
✅ Stereotypes fuel stigma and misunderstanding.
✅ Authentic stories normalize diabetes.
✅ Media educates and fosters empathy.
✅ Representation inspires and empowers.
✅ Social media amplifies diverse voices and drives advocacy.
The stories we see, hear, and consume, through television, film, social media, or news, shape our understanding of the world and the people in it. For Canadians living with diabetes, media representation is not just entertainment; it is a critical factor in how society perceives their condition and, crucially, how they perceive themselves.
The stories we see, hear, and consume, through television, film, social media, or news, shape our understanding of the world and the people in it. For Canadians living with diabetes, media representation is not just entertainment; it is a critical factor in how society perceives their condition and, crucially, how they perceive themselves.
For too long, diabetes has been either absent from mainstream narratives or depicted through harmful, one-dimensional stereotypes that perpetuate stigma and misunderstanding.
The Problem with Stereotypes
Typical portrayals often present diabetes as a secondary plot point tied to older characters, or as a direct consequence of “unhealthy” lifestyle choices, frequently linked to weight. This reinforces the damaging myth that diabetes is always self-inflicted and easily controllable through willpower alone. Such narratives ignore the genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that contribute to Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
In Canada, these stereotypes intersect with societal issues such as systemic inequities, cultural differences, and disparities in healthcare access. Indigenous communities, South Asian populations, and other marginalized groups often face compounded challenges due to structural inequalities, making misrepresentation in media an added burden.
Impact on Individuals
Internalized stigma can lead to shame, low self-esteem, and reluctance to disclose diabetes to friends, employers, or healthcare providers. Research shows that internalized stigma correlates with poorer psychological well-being and reduced self-management behaviors.
Social media has transformed how diabetes is represented and understood. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube give people living with diabetes the power to share their own stories, tips, and challenges. This authentic storytelling helps break down stigma, build supportive communities, and inspire self-confidence.
For younger audiences, however, constant exposure to curated content can influence the developing brain, shaping self-image, stress responses, and health behaviors. While social media can empower, it also has the potential to amplify harmful stereotypes or misinformation if not approached critically. Beyond personal impact, it remains a powerful tool for advocacy, raising awareness of systemic barriers and pushing for better healthcare policies worldwide.
The Transformative Power of Authentic Representation
Positive, nuanced portrayals of people living with diabetes can have wide-reaching benefits:
Normalization
Seeing individuals managing diabetes as part of everyday life, without making it their defining characteristic, helps normalize the condition. For instance, a Canadian TV series could feature a young adult checking blood glucose or using insulin discreetly, integrating it naturally into daily activities. Globally, Spanish or UK series have shown how seamless integration can reduce stigma.
Education and Awareness
Accurate media depictions educate the public about diabetes, correcting myths and fostering empathy. Documentaries or news features highlighting diverse experiences, like Indigenous Canadians managing diabetes in rural areas or urban South Asian communities, can illuminate challenges such as access to nutritious food, technology, and culturally sensitive care.
Inspiration and Empowerment
Representation provides role models and reduces isolation. Seeing celebrities, athletes, or relatable characters managing diabetes successfully encourages individuals to feel empowered. The International Diabetes Federation and Diabetes Canada both feature campaigns highlighting real stories to challenge stereotypes. A study in individuals with type 1 diabetes, found that social media was empowering and allowed them to control the narrative.
Advocacy and Policy Change
Media visibility can drive public support for improved healthcare policies. Awareness through traditional media and social platforms pressures governments and health authorities to invest in better resources, research, and support programs. Social media influencers (“diabloggers”) in Canada and worldwide are increasingly shaping authentic narratives that destigmatize diabetes.
The Role of Media in Shaping Narratives
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow people with diabetes to control their own stories, sharing daily experiences, tips, and emotional journeys. This democratization of media gives voice to those historically underrepresented and fosters supportive communities. Globally, content creators can model how lived experience can educate, normalize, and inspire.
Journalism also plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of diabetes. Media coverage often uses sensationalist language and focuses on negative stereotypes, which can contribute to social prejudice and discrimination against people with diabetes.
The need is for journalists to adopt a more responsible, ethical, and evidence-based approach to reporting on the condition. This includes using person-first language, highlighting the complexities of diabetes, and focusing on positive stories of people living full lives with the disease. By changing their narrative, journalists can help reduce stigma and improve public understanding.
Toward a More Inclusive Narrative
Representation matters because it transforms the conversation around diabetes from shame and blame to strength, resilience, and hope. For Canadians and people worldwide, authentic portrayals:
Promote understanding and reduce stigma.
Encourage self-advocacy and confidence in self-management.
Highlight systemic barriers and the importance of equity in healthcare.
Inspire communities, influencing policy and public perception.
Media creators, journalists, and social platforms have a responsibility to move beyond stereotypes, embracing the diversity and richness of real stories. When society sees diabetes accurately represented, it fosters inclusion, empathy, and better health outcomes for everyone.
