Time to discuss the “ic” word (diabetic) again.
I’ve discussed this with many people, and it is safe to say that about half of people (based on several surveys) with diabetes either refer to themselves as diabetics, prefer to call themselves diabetics, or don’t care what they are called.
The other half are bothered by the word diabetic, don’t call themselves that, and/or don’t like to be called that.
Personally, I stopped referring to myself or anyone else as a diabetic in approximately 1988. When I say we’ve been talking about the language of diabetes for decades, I’m not kidding!
I don’t identify as a diabetic, I don’t relate to being a diabetic, and when someone asks if I’m a diabetic, I simply (and pretty stealthily, I think) correct them by saying, “I have type 1 diabetes.” In fact, I never answer “yes” to that question.
So here’s the deal. The language movement that’s going on now is not an attempt to correct or scold anyone for calling themself whatever they want to be called. I have no problem with someone referring to themself as a diabetic. We are simply asking health care professionals (and any others who are interested) not to refer to others as diabetic (adj.) or diabetics (noun). We are simply leading by example because we know that it can be a stigmatizing, unhelpful word, and if half the people are bothered by it, why take the chance?
That’s all. (Stay tuned for why #languagematters is not the most important thing in diabetes.)