Language Matters pocket guides (April 2023)

Summary

The language used by healthcare professionals can have a profound impact on how people living with diabetes, and those who care for them, experience their condition and feel about living with it day-to-day. At its best, good use of language; verbal, written and non-verbal (body language) which is more inclusive and values based, can lower anxiety, build confidence, educate and help to improve self-care. On the other hand, poor communication can be stigmatising, hurtful and undermining of self-care and have a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes. 

Language Matters Diabetes is a global movement that aims to improve the way in which healthcare professionals and wider society talks about and to people with diabetes. These three pocket guides for different groups aim to address use of language about diabetes and people with diabetes in order to improve experiences of care and tackle stigma.

• Language Matters pocket guide: Healthcare professionals
• Language Matters pocket guide: Parents and families
• Language Matters pocket guide: Media and social media