It’s November: Diabetes Awareness Month.
While it’s wonderful to have a month of diabetes focus each year, at DiapointME and in the lives of 537 million+ people and those who love and care for them, diabetes is on our hearts and minds every day of every month.
I sat down to write a completely different article about diabetes at work this afternoon, but when I searched for scholarly articles on diabetes in the workplace, I only found discussions about how diabetes affects workplace productivity, how much work is lost or how much a person with diabetes costs the company.
Diabetes At Work – Are We Asking The Wrong Questions?
While these statistics are valid, the bigger questions we need to ask are:
Why isn’t there more focus on how the workplace affects diabetes?
What are the particular challenges of working with diabetes?
How can workplaces be more inclusive for people with diabetes?
How are companies supporting people with diabetes?
Diabetes Can Affect Work… But Work Can Contribute To Diabetes
All of the things associated with hard work like high stress, long hours without breaks, limited physical activity, shift work, poor sleep, and unhealthy eating habits all contribute to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.
Moreover, a corporate culture where diabetes is stigmatized, where employees feel they cannot comfortably manage their condition or take personal time off for regular check-ups can lead to further complications.
Why are we not talking about this? How are you supporting people with diabetes in your organization?
Diabetes Health Coaching – Individual and Corporate
Workplaces can play an important role in supporting the lives of people living with diabetes. Your compassionate efforts can change lives, and change your workplace, for the better.
If you are not sure where to begin, I’m happy to help. Learn how diabetes health coaching can support you, both at home and at work.
