Commentary: The Effect of Words on Health and Diabetes

Abstract

This article discusses the effect of words on diabetes. People with diabetes are exposed to the language health care professionals (HCPs) use, in both speaking and writing, and those words may contribute to an already stressful illness experience. Language is a significant part of every person’s context, and context shapes experience. There is evidence that words can affect responses to health-related situations and may even lead to a stress response. HCPs often discuss delivering diabetes care in an empowerment model, and so far that has not included using language that is consistent with the approach. Awareness is the first step toward identifying and changing the words HCPs use with people who have diabetes.

Race, ethnicity, and racism in the nutrition literature: an update for 2020

“…( 6 ). This is analogous to the realization in the medical literature more broadly that describing people as “diabetics” ( 69 ) or “obese” or “non-compliant” has adverse consequences to communication and does not foster a patient-centered attitude. Use of “White versus non-White” comparisons may carry the erroneous assumption that White subjects are normative.…”

The Experience of Diabetes-Related Language in Diabetes Care

“…The negative effect of language in health care is a topic that has been discussed for more than half a century (1); however, it is just recently beginning to gain some momentum. In 2017, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association published a joint statement on the use of language in diabetes care and education (2).…”

“…For almost two decades, diabetes professionals have been discussing the inappropriateness of words such as “compliance” and “adherence” in diabetes care (3,6,7), yet these words are still used frequently (1). Diabetes professionals embrace an empowerment model for delivering education and care, yet the language being used in diabetes care and education is not always consistent with that approach.…”

Developing Methods That Facilitate Coding and Analysis of Synchronous Conversations via Virtual Environments

“…These real-time conversations among individuals who interact with others via a VE provide valuable insight into a specific phenomenon such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) self-management (Keelan et al, 2015; McElhinney et al, 2014; McElhinney et al, 2018). The words that participants use in conversations with others become an index for their experiences living with, and self-managing their T2D, in addition to providing information on their experience in the VE (Dickinson, 2017; Dunning, Speight, & Bennett, 2017). A researcher can then use these real-time conversations to examine how individuals relate to others while obtaining T2D-specific information and support in a VE.…”