5.2 Explain the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with diabetes

This guide will help you answer 5.2 Explain the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with diabetes.

Diabetes is a long-term condition that can affect every part of a person’s life. It requires careful management through diet, medication, and lifestyle adjustments. The way other people act and speak can affect how a person with diabetes feels, manages their condition, and lives day-to-day. Attitudes and behaviours from family, friends, colleagues, healthcare workers, and members of the public can have a positive or negative effect.

Some people may show support and encouragement. Others may display judgement, lack of awareness, or unhelpful behaviour. Both positive and negative attitudes can shape a person’s mental health, confidence, and motivation to manage diabetes.

Understanding these impacts is important for anyone working in health and social care. It helps workers respond in ways that promote dignity, independence, and good emotional wellbeing.

What Attitudes Mean for a Person with Diabetes

Attitudes are the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that someone has about a person or their condition. These can be based on knowledge, personal experience, stereotypes, or misinformation.

Positive attitudes may include:

• Respect for the person’s independence
• Encouragement without pressure
• An understanding of diabetes and its effects

Negative attitudes may include:

• Blaming the person for their condition
• Treating them as if they are less capable
• Assuming all people with diabetes are the same

When other people show positive attitudes, the individual may feel valued, understood, and confident in managing their condition. When negative attitudes are present, the person may feel stressed, stigmatised, and less likely to seek help.

The Role of Behaviour

Behaviour is how attitudes are expressed through actions or words. Behaviour can be verbal, such as offering kind comments or making hurtful jokes, or non-verbal, such as body language, facial expressions, or avoiding someone altogether.

Supportive behaviours include:

• Asking how the person prefers to manage their condition
• Respecting their decisions about food, treatment, or activity
• Offering help when needed but not taking over

Harmful behaviours include:

• Making unwanted food choices for the person
• Ignoring their needs when planning activities
• Drawing attention to their blood testing or insulin injections in a shaming way

The behaviour of others either reinforces a positive environment or contributes to an environment where the person feels excluded or judged.

Impact on Emotional Wellbeing

The emotional impact can be significant. Positive attitudes and behaviours support mental health, reduce anxiety, and encourage effective self-care. Negative actions or views can increase stress, depression, or feelings of isolation.

Possible effects of negative attitudes include:

• Reduced self-esteem
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Fear of checking blood sugar levels or taking insulin in public
• Shame or embarrassment about the condition

Possible effects of supportive attitudes include:

• Feeling accepted and understood
• Confidence to be open about their needs
• Greater motivation to stick to treatment plans

Emotional wellbeing is closely linked to physical health. Stress can affect blood sugar control, so a hostile or unhelpful environment can make the condition harder to manage.

Impact on Self-Management of Diabetes

Managing diabetes often requires daily planning, regular monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments. Attitudes and behaviours from others can influence how well these self-management activities happen.

For example:

• A supportive family member may help by providing suitable food options without making the person feel pressured.
• A friend who mocks dietary needs may lead the person to avoid managing their diet in social situations.
• Employers who allow breaks for blood sugar testing support good management, while those who dismiss this need create barriers.

When people feel confident and supported, they are more likely to follow their treatment and attend appointments. When they face criticism or lack of understanding, they may avoid care activities, which can lead to health complications.

Social Inclusion and Isolation

Diabetes should not stop someone from living a full social life. Yet attitudes and behaviours can affect how included they feel.

Positive behaviours that encourage inclusion:

• Inviting the person to social events without making them feel like a burden
• Offering food options that meet their needs without putting them on the spot
• Including them in activities where they can manage their health needs discreetly

Negative behaviours that cause isolation:

• Not inviting them to events involving food
• Making repeated comments about their eating or drinking choices
• Excluding them from activities because of an assumption they cannot take part

Isolation can harm mental health, and in some cases, it can lead to poorer physical health because social interaction often supports wellbeing.

Stereotyping and Stigma

Some people have limited or incorrect knowledge about diabetes. They may believe myths such as every person with diabetes developed it through lifestyle choices or that the condition is contagious. These myths can lead to stigmatising attitudes or comments.

The effects of stigma can include:

• Reluctance to talk about the condition
• Avoiding public management of diabetes, leading to missed insulin doses or poor monitoring
• Increased stress from having to challenge or ignore unreasonable comments

Breaking stereotypes through education can help others respond more appropriately and avoid judgement.

Family Dynamics

Family members have a strong influence, especially if they live with or care for the person with diabetes. Their support can be a valuable resource, but it can also create tension if attitudes are controlling or critical.

Positive family support may involve:

• Encouraging the person to follow their own care plan
• Sharing meals that meet dietary needs without making the person feel different
• Accompanying them to medical appointments if asked

Negative family behaviours may involve:

• Constantly monitoring what the person eats in a controlling way
• Making comments that blame the person for their diagnosis
• Ignoring health needs during family activities

How a family approaches the condition can shape whether the person feels confident and supported, or stressed and criticised.

Workplace Attitudes

Work colleagues and managers can greatly affect how a person with diabetes experiences their working life.

Supportive workplace behaviour may involve:

• Allowing flexible break times for blood sugar checks and snacks
• Understanding that sudden changes in behaviour could be linked to blood sugar levels
• Adjusting shift patterns if needed to keep health stable

Negative workplace attitudes may involve:

• Treating requested adjustments as unreasonable
• Making jokes or negative comments about the condition
• Ignoring signs of blood sugar problems

Workplace attitudes can influence both the health of the person and their career opportunities.

Public and Community Attitudes

Members of the public can have a daily influence too. For example, someone injecting insulin in a café might receive supportive looks or hostile stares. These reactions affect confidence and willingness to manage the condition in public.

Positive community attitudes may include:

• Respect for private medical needs in public spaces
• Providing healthy food options in public venues
• Supporting public health campaigns that promote understanding

Negative community attitudes may include:

• Making comments about someone’s food choices
• Assuming people with diabetes are not able to participate in normal activities
• Spreading misinformation about the condition

Community environments that are understanding make it easier for people with diabetes to take care of their health without fear of judgement.

The Influence of Health and Social Care Workers

Health and social care workers play a direct role in shaping the individual’s experience. Professional, respectful attitudes help build trust. Poor attitudes can cause distress and reduce engagement with care.

Positive professional behaviour:

• Listening to the person’s needs and experiences
• Providing clear advice without judgement
• Treating the person as a partner in their own care

Negative professional behaviour:

• Using dismissive language
• Rushing appointments and ignoring concerns
• Focusing only on the medical condition without considering the person’s life as a whole

Training, empathy, and good communication skills help professionals provide care that supports both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Encouraging Positive Change in Attitudes and Behaviour

Attitudes can change through education, open conversations, and challenging stereotypes. Those around a person with diabetes can learn:

• What the condition is and how it is managed
• Myths and facts about its causes and treatments
• How their words and actions directly affect the individual

Behaviour can improve when others understand that small actions matter, such as allowing space for private testing or refraining from making jokes about food. Supportive environments come from a mix of awareness, respect, and practical help.

Final Thoughts

People with diabetes live with a condition that requires daily management and attention. The way others think, speak, and act can support that process or make it more difficult. A respectful, understanding approach improves emotional wellbeing, boosts confidence, and helps the person take control of their health.

Negative attitudes and behaviour can create barriers, increase stress, and limit opportunities. This can affect both short-term management and long-term health. In health and social care work, it is important to remember that every interaction, whether positive or negative, can affect how someone feels about their condition and their ability to live well with it.