Associations between diabetes duration and self-stigma development in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.

Self-stigma was associated with diabetes duration and was lowest after diagnosis and gradually increased, with its highest levels being observed in those having diabetes for 11-15 years. Self-stigma takes time to develop and gradually increases in individuals as it is learnt through direct experiences of diabetes-related stigma after self-administering treatment in everyday social situations.