On 28-29 March, a landmark international gathering reinvigorated the diabetes community’s commitment to tackling diabetes stigma. Experts, advocates and individuals with lived experience met in Jaipur, India, for the inaugural End Diabetes Stigma Global Summit.
Organised by the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes alongside global partners, the summit united voices from research, clinical care, advocacy and communities to develop a coordinated response to discrimination and misinformation surrounding diabetes.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was present at the Summit and participated in a number of sessions. During a session on community-based solutions, the KiDS programme was highlighted for its role in addressing stigma in schools, emphasising the importance of shaping a global roadmap to confront diabetes stigma early in life.
Discussions underscored that stigma is not confined to any single age group, region, culture or healthcare system. Participants identified blame, fear and disgust—often driven by misconceptions that diabetes is self-inflicted—as key contributors to negative social attitudes.
The theme of the summit recognised people living with diabetes as experts and co-creators of solutions, rather than token contributors. The diverse mix of researchers and lived-experience advocates enabled a multi-dimensional dialogue, reinforcing the need for inclusive approaches.
Delegates stressed that advocacy must go beyond language, calling for structural reforms in workplaces, schools and healthcare policies to remove systemic barriers.
The summit also reinforced the Global Pledge to End Diabetes Stigma, developed and unanimously endorsed by 51 experts from 18 countries. This forms part of broader international consensus recommendations aimed at eliminating discrimination.
With four in five people living with diabetes reporting stigma, organisers warned that its impact, ranging from social isolation to reduced access to care, poses serious risks to physical and mental well-being. The summit marked a significant step towards coordinated global action.
