Mr Stigma

By Duke Al, spoken word poet who lives with type 1 diabetes

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional about your diabetes management. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.

Allow me to introduce Mr. Stigma, a representation of stigmatisation that people living with diabetes experience.

Throughout the piece, Mr. Stigma is up for trial against his actions. The voice represents a judge speaking to the audience and Mr. Stigma.

I decided to write this piece in this format to highlight the effects stigmatisation can have and how serious it can be, showing the importance of education.

I enjoy writing then performing my spoken word poetry in interesting ways that connect and relate to the audience. I create to relate and educate.

I hope this piece can resonate with other people living with diabetes, so they do not feel alone, ashamed, or unable to talk about it.

I also hope this piece will raise awareness of stigmatisation within diabetes and help educate misinformed people of what diabetes is, especially in the workplace, where stigma can often occur. It is vital that information about diabetes is taught within places of work, schools and in general, as knowledge teaches understanding.

Click here for the video version to hear Duke Al perform his poem.

You can connect with Duke Al on Instagram and X @dukealdurham

Duke Al is a published poet, spoken word artist, hip hop artist and creative practitioner. Writing rhymes is Duke Al’s therapy. From a young age, Duke Al would scribble raps and poems in his old lyric book. It was his way of expressing himself; an escapism to challenge his OCD. A passion of words, flow and rhyme flared. After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 23, the pen was there to help him understand and articulate how he felt. Now he aims to make an impactful change using one rhyme at a time. He is the author of ‘Bittersweet: The Highs, The Lows, Hypers and Hypos of Living with Type 1 Diabetes’. You can find Duke Al’s recent published work on Creative Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan University ‘Graduation’ and ‘Move More Cardiff’ initiative, TNT Sports ‘Sport in Words’ for Black History Month on Sir Lewis Hamilton, BBC Wales, BBC Scrum V for The Six Nations 2022.

Duke Al was paid a fee to write this poem. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of Abbott.