How to support employees with diabetes and create healthier, more productive workplaces

Supporting employees with diabetes requires practical workplace strategies to help individuals maintain their health, employment and quality of life. Simple accommodations combined with physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions can create environments where people with diabetes can thrive whilst managing their condition effectively.

Today marks World Diabetes Day 2025, with a timely focus on Diabetes and Wellbeing at Work. Living with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, means managing the condition every single day, including during working hours. Globally, 7 in 10 (412 million) adults living with diabetes are of working age. People with diabetes face unique challenges in the workplace, but with informed support from employers, they can maintain their health and maximise their productivity. Whilst type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90 percent of all diabetes cases, type 1 diabetes presents distinct workplace management considerations as individuals require insulin administration and careful monitoring to balance insulin, food and activity levels throughout the working day.

The stakes are high for both individuals and organisations. People with diabetes have to approach every part of the working day with constant caution and extra effort. Without workplace support those living with diabetes at work can face stigma, bullying, reduced morale and wellbeing and additional days lost to work each year compared to their colleagues without diabetes. While diabetes affects both physical and mental well-being, care often focuses only on blood sugar management, leaving many overwhelmed – such that 3 in 4 people living with diabetes have experienced anxiety, depression or another mental health condition because of their diabetes and 4 in 5 people living with diabetes experience diabetes burnout.

Creating a diabetes-friendly workplace starts with understanding what people with diabetes actually need to enable them to manage their health whilst staying productive. The International Diabetes Federation suggests 10 ways to do more for diabetes at work – from setting up workplace policies, to listening and offering support without judgement. Small adjustments to the work environment or schedule can reduce absenteeism and presenteeism, increase productivity and concentration, reduce the chance of on-the-job injury, and help employers stay in compliance with the law.

In addition to having workplace support in place, rehabilitation professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and specialist diabetes nurses can bring unique expertise to diabetes management in workplace contexts. Whether that be through structured exercise programmes, or supporting with daily routines and habits, rehabilitation professionals can partner with patients to manage their diabetes more independently and practically. They can bring value to the diabetes care team by evaluating multiple levels of influence on diabetes self-management and treatment adherence, addressing personal and environmental barriers to wellbeing, and supporting patients to develop the complex competencies and skills required for successful self-management. This might involve implementing organisational tools and reminders, tactile modifications for low vision, or adaptive set-ups for medication and glucose monitoring in cases of limited mobility or sensation. This individualised approach proves particularly valuable in workplace settings. Working with clients to establish exercise, meal preparation, rest and social supports promotes success in sustainable self-diabetes management. When complications arise, rehabilitation professionals help individuals maintain employment through adaptive strategies and functional support.

Beyond physical accommodations, education matters enormously. Training all employees on diabetes management, including recognising symptoms of high and low blood sugar, can help create a safer and more supportive environment. At Physiopedia, we recognise the growing importance of diabetes knowledge for the global rehabilitation workforce. Our volunteer team are currently working on diabetes as our topic of the month, reviewing existing pages and developing new content including a forthcoming page on diabetes in the workplace. Through comprehensive, evidence-based resources, we aim to equip rehabilitation professionals with the knowledge they need to support their patients and clients in managing diabetes across all aspects of life, including work.

World Diabetes Day 2025 reminds us that supporting employees with diabetes is not just about medical management, it is about creating environments where people can thrive whilst managing their condition – helping individuals maintain their health, their employment and their quality of life.