About

Millions of diabetics don’t treat their disease well, if at all. Why is this? To find out, we listened to people with diabetes. They provided insights and CDP developed answers.

A big problem is rampant misinformation that causes an unfair stigma. For example, people believe diabetics bring the disease on themselves by being overweight, sedentary and/or eating too much sugar. It’s actually initiated when a genetic predisposition encounters an environmental trigger.

Even so, society points the finger and many diabetics feel guilt and shame. One way to escape this is denial. Since Type 2 symptoms are tolerable for years, it’s easy to ignore them until complications arise. Too many diabetics do this, suffer the consequences and die early.

Another issue is mistrust of health care professionals. So is the judgment diabetics feel when they’re labeled “noncompliant.” This baggage – justified or not – makes health care professionals less effective in outreach.

CDP presenters are well-informed diabetics who can relate to others easily because they personally know how difficult the disease is and how frustrating it can be.

Reaching, teaching and motivating diabetics more effectively is the most formidable barrier to improving outcomes, especially in our most at risk communities. But better results require new approaches. CDP is a unique and efficient way to teach the basics, fight the stigma and create a supportive social environment.