Key Takeaways
- 11.6% of the U.S. population is living with diabetes.
- 40% of employees living with diabetes have been mistreated in the workplace due to their condition.
- Steps you can take to support employees living with diabetes include overcoming the stigma by learning about the disease and its impact, educating your team, and providing a private place for testing and taking insulin.
- Read on for more tips and ideas.
Did you know that 40% of employees living with diabetes reported negative treatment in the workplace due to their condition? That’s a startling truth that should resonate deeply with supervisors and co-workers alike.
11.6% of the U.S. population is currently living with diabetes. On average, for every 10 people in your workplace, one of them is struggling with this common disease. Sadly, many of them suffer in silence, so you may not even realize that they have diabetes at all.
Mental health and diabetes are directly connected. People who have diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression, and 77% of people living with diabetes have experienced depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health conditions due to the disease.
Poor treatment in the workplace can significantly exacerbate existing mental and emotional health conditions. Diabetes cases are increasing, so it’s more important than ever to support those bearing the burden, both in our professional and personal lives.
Recognize the Disease’s Impact on Employees
The first step toward being an ally to employees living with diabetes is to genuinely try to understand the emotional and mental exhaustion of diabetes, as well as the physical difficulties they go through daily. Just being aware of how they might be feeling is a huge step forward.
Taking the time to learn about the disease empowers you to be thoughtful and compassionate in ways you might not have otherwise considered.
Overcome the Stigma Through Education
Beyond just understanding, it’s important to proactively move beyond outdated and stereotypical beliefs about diabetes. Diabetes can happen to anyone.
Often, negative treatment in the workplace is directly related to falsehoods about the disease. Educating yourself and your team goes a long way in preventing the spread of misconceptions that lead to mistreatment.
Normalize the Disease
Spreading awareness helps to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for all team members, not only those who are fortunate to have good health.
Offering on-site educational seminars and screenings is a great way to normalize diabetes. Addressing discrimination, gossip, and other forms of bullying can show employees living with diabetes that you have their collective back.
Have a Plan for Diabetes Emergencies
Your workplace should have a hypoglycemia action plan ready in case a low blood sugar attack occurs. You and your team should know what to do if one of your team members shows signs of hypoglycemia.
Additionally, keeping glucose products like tablets, gels, or shots on hand can save a life. Even if you don’t end up needing them, making them accessible normalizes diabetes and shows that you care.
Designate a Place to Store Diabetes Supplies
Employees living with diabetes are often forced to carry around diabetic supplies or keep them in a purse or backpack because adequate storage space isn’t available.
Consider designating a locker, cabinet, or drawer for medical supplies. Beyond being a practical way to reduce their burden, this simple gesture shows you’re looking out for your team.
Provide a Private Place for Testing & Medicating
In the workplace, using CGM supplies and test strips to check blood sugar is daunting. And, sometimes insulin syringes and other insulin supplies are needed to balance levels.
Forcing employees to hide in a bathroom stall isn’t fair. They deserve a private place where they can handle these very personal procedures without feeling like they’re doing something wrong.
Be Flexible With Breaks
For a person living with diabetes, eating isn’t just about satiating hunger. They often need to consume specific foods and drinks at specific times to maintain or balance their blood sugar levels. It’s not always possible to wait until noon.
Be aware that taking an early lunch break might be a necessity. Know that a mid-afternoon snack has nothing to do with gluttony. Everyone needs food to live, but for employees with diabetes, the consequences of a rigid break schedule can be truly devastating.
Be Thoughtful About Available Foods and Drinks
For someone living with diabetes, hosting or attending a dinner party can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Now, imagine how much more difficult the mental struggle is in a work environment.
From holiday parties to vending machine fare, try to provide diabetes-friendly options. There are plenty of foods and drinks that everyone can enjoy, so make it a point to make your workplace and events inclusive to all.
Be Proactive About Stress Reduction
Workplace stress leads to poor performance and productivity, as well as reduced engagement and communication. From a purely practical standpoint, taking steps to reduce workplace stress is a prudent managerial decision.
From promoting mindfulness programs to paying for team members’ yoga classes, helping employees stay stress-free can significantly improve morale (and your bottom line). For people with and without diabetes, stress reduction supports a happier, healthier lifestyle overall.
Don’t Wait to Be Asked
Talking to friends and family about living with diabetes is often extremely difficult. You can’t expect employees who have diabetes to open up. There’s a very high chance that you have team members who are living with diabetes, but you simply don’t know about it.
With that in mind, don’t wait for an employee to confide in you or talk to HR. Make these crucial changes on your own, as soon as possible.
Shop Diabetes Supplies
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