Nearly 80% of adults living with diabetes report experiences of diabetes stigma. We aimed to examine associations between diabetes stigma and the use of diabetes technologies among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In August 2022, 594 adults with T1D (mean age: 55±15 years; duration T1D: 29±17 years; 71% women) from the dQ&A US Patient Panel completed an online survey. Questions included the Type 1 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale (DSAS-1) and diabetes and demographic characteristics. DSAS-1 Total and subscale (Treated Differently, Blame and Judgment, Identity Concerns) scores were compared by device use (independent samples t-test). Individuals who did not use diabetes technologies reported greater stigma (Total; Treated Differently; Identity Concerns) but did not differ from those using technologies on Blame and Judgment (Table). The relationship between diabetes stigma and technology use is a novel finding, warranting further investigation with larger, more heterogeneous samples to determine whether diabetes stigma may be a barrier to device use or whether it is mitigated by device use.
M.Garza: Other Relationship; Sanofi. E.Shoger: Other Relationship; Dexcom, Inc., Abbott Diabetes, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., Beta Bionics, Inc., Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MannKind Corporation. E.Holmes-truscott: Research Support; Sanofi, AstraZeneca. K.Joiner: None. A.Addala: None. D.Naranjo: None. E.A.Beverly: None. J.Speight: Research Support; Sanofi, Medtronic, Abbott Diabetes, Lilly, Novo Nordisk A/S, Speaker's Bureau; Sanofi.