Diabetes as a stigmatized condition: The case of low-income clinic patients in the United States

Abstract

While the concept of stigma has been used to discuss chronically-ill individuals, it has not been incorporated into a more holistic framework that considers cultural, social and economic variables. This paper analyzes aspects of stigma as expressed within a lower-income clinic diabetic population in the United States. Specifically, the effect of diabetes on changes in the individual's physical abilities, social interaction, employment, and perceptions of self-care are discussed as they interact with social isolation and stigma. Stigma as a social consequence of diabetes for this particular group, is examined as it relates to issues of self-care, non-compliance with medical regime, and conflicts with practitioners.