Chronic illnesses carry not just physical burdens, but often social stigma too. One woman turned to Reddit’s AITA forum after a coworker accused her of “pretending” to be a type 1 diabetic simply because she used a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
The accusation didn’t stop there, the coworker began publicly clarifying to others that she was a type 2 diabetic, implying she had “done it to herself.” Reddit had strong opinions about privacy, misinformation, and stigma around diabetes.
One woman faced accusations of misleading others by not clarifying she has Type 2 diabetes after someone assumed her Dexcom meant Type 1
The clash here isn’t just about medical labels, it’s about stigma. Type 2 diabetes is often unfairly framed as “self-inflicted,” but that’s far from the full picture.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), genetics, age, and family history play major roles in type 2 diabetes, alongside lifestyle factors. In fact, lean, active people can develop it too.
Dr. William Cefalu, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association, emphasizes that “blame-based narratives around type 2 diabetes are harmful and inaccurate. They discourage people from seeking treatment and fuel unnecessary shame”.
What makes the situation worse is the coworker’s choice to spread OP’s diagnosis around. Under U.S. law, an employee’s medical information is considered private, and disclosing it without consent can even create legal liability.
As workplace advisor Amy Gallo writes in Harvard Business Review, “gossip about someone’s health is not just unkind, it’s unprofessional and potentially discriminatory.”
There’s also a psychological angle. Divisions within patient groups, like type 1 vs. type 2, mirror what health sociologists call “hierarchies of deservingness.” As seen in cancer stigma research, patients perceived as “responsible” for their condition often face harsher judgment, even though the reality is far more nuanced.
A study in Social Science & Medicine highlights how this creates isolation rather than solidarity among people facing similar struggles.
In OP’s case, she isn’t obligated to clarify her type to anyone. A CGM is a tool, not a badge of identity. The respectful approach is simple: if someone asks, answer if you want to. If not, it’s no one’s business.
Here’s what people had to say to OP:
Some commenters debunked the “self-inflicted” myth, defending her privacy
This group pushed for HR to address the gossip, calling it harassment
Some commenters slammed the accuser’s ignorance and rudeness
One emphasized her right to medical privacy
Another compared the judgment to cancer stigma, highlighting its unfairness
This drama shows how quickly health stigma can turn an ally into an accuser. The OP wasn’t pretending to be anything, she was simply using a tool that helps her live well. But outdated attitudes about type 2 diabetes left her shamed and isolated.
So, should she start clarifying her diagnosis every time someone notices her CGM or is her health journey hers alone to share? And how do we shift from blame-based thinking to real compassion in conversations about chronic illness?
