Diabetes Awareness Week 2026: Supporting Safe, Sustainable Work for People Living With Diabetes

Diabetes Awareness Week, held from 8–14 June, invites workplaces and professionals across the UK to deepen their understanding of what it means to live and work with diabetes. For the vocational rehabilitation (VR) community, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, case managers, employment specialists and VR practitioners, the week highlights the importance of early, informed, and practical support that enables people with diabetes to participate safely and consistently in work.

According to Diabetes UK, around 5 million people in the UK are currently living with diabetes, with the number of people leaving the workforce due to diabetes‑related long‑term sickness increasing by 79% between 2019 and 2023 . With most people of working age able to manage their condition effectively when supported appropriately, the workplace plays a crucial role in enabling good health, preventing complications, and reducing avoidable economic inactivity.

Understanding the Realities of Working With Diabetes

Diabetes management can influence work ability in several ways, particularly when job demands are not aligned with an individual’s health needs. Diabetes UK highlights several common workplace challenges:

• Energy fluctuations linked to blood glucose changes
• Hypos and hypers, which may require immediate action
• Medication and glucose monitoring, including insulin administration or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices
• Shift work, which can disrupt glucose stability
• Access to regular breaks for eating, testing, or medication
• Stigma or misunderstanding, which may discourage disclosure or help‑seeking

Many people with diabetes manage these demands effectively, but only when workplaces understand the condition and provide the flexibility required to maintain stable glucose levels and prevent complications. Diabetes UK emphasises that diabetes is typically covered under the Equality Act 2010, meaning employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to support safe and fair participation at work .

The Role of Vocational Rehabilitation

VR practitioners are uniquely positioned to support individuals and employers in navigating the intersection of diabetes and work. Their expertise helps ensure that work remains safe, sustainable, and compatible with effective diabetes management.

1. Job Demand Analysis

A structured job demand analysis allows VR professionals to identify tasks, schedules, and environmental factors that may affect glucose management. This includes assessing:

• Physical demands
• Break patterns
• Shift patterns
• Environmental risks (e.g., working at height during hypo‑risk periods)
• Predictability of workload

This analysis forms the basis for tailored, practical recommendations.

2. Reasonable Adjustments

Diabetes UK outlines several examples of reasonable adjustments that can support safe work participation, including:

• Flexibility around break times to manage glucose levels
• Permission to carry food, drink, or glucose treatments
• A private space for insulin administration or glucose testing
• Adjusted shift patterns to reduce hypo‑risk
• Time off for medical appointments or structured education courses

These adjustments are often simple, low‑cost, and highly effective.

3. Education and Stigma Reduction

VR practitioners can help employers and colleagues understand:

• What diabetes is, and is not
• How to respond safely to hypos
• Why flexibility is essential, not preferential
• How stigma or misunderstanding can discourage disclosure

Diabetes UK’s 2024 employment position statement highlights that a lack of employer understanding and stigma from managers or colleagues remain major barriers to safe and sustained employment for people with diabetes .

Why This Matters for Work, Health and Prevention

Effective diabetes management is essential for preventing long‑term complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and sight loss. Diabetes UK emphasises that attending routine diabetes checks is critical for early identification of risks and maintaining long‑term health, yet workplace inflexibility can make this difficult for many working‑age adults .

By supporting people to manage their condition well at work, VR practitioners help:

• Reduce the risk of avoidable complications
• Prevent unnecessary sickness absence
• Support safe return‑to‑work after periods of ill health
• Promote long‑term participation in meaningful, good‑quality work

This aligns directly with the VR community’s commitment to enabling people to remain healthy, capable, and included in working life.

Further Professional Resources

• Diabetes UK – workplace guidance, rights information, and practical resources: https://www.diabetes.org.uk

Conclusion

Diabetes Awareness Week is a reminder that understanding, flexibility, and early support can make a profound difference to the working lives of people with diabetes. For the VR community, this means embedding evidence‑based assessment, reasonable adjustments, and education into everyday practice. By doing so, practitioners help ensure that people with diabetes can work safely, confidently, and without stigma, benefiting individuals, employers, and the wider economy.

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