People with diabetes successfully perform all types of jobs from heading major corporations to protecting public safety to performing on stage or in a sports arena. A general misunderstanding of diabetes is still common in our community and among some employers. Concerns of uninformed employers includes thinking that people with diabetes will ‘black out’ all the time, or have frequent sick days.
The reality is that, because many individuals with diabetes work with few or no restrictions, their employers don’t even know that they have diabetes.
Diabetes and Work Questions
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During the job interview or on the application form, you may be asked to identify health problems. You should always state that you have diabetes. Be prepared to discuss how diabetes may affect your work. For example:
- Explain how you would adjust your insulin/tablets/eating routine to accommodate the work involved.
- Mention your need for occasional short breaks to have a between-meal snack or to test your blood glucose levels.
- Stress the positive aspects of diabetes such as the fact you follow a healthy lifestyle, having yearly medical checks, following routines, and above all, having a responsible attitude towards your health, which rubs off on to other life attitudes including your work.
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It is illegal for a prospective employer to not employ you because you have diabetes unless there is good evidence that diabetes would prevent you from adequately performing the genuine and reasonable requirements of the position.
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Yes. Unfortunately some jobs are not suited to a person with diabetes. These jobs include working in dangerous situations, or jobs where there may be sudden, unpredictable and unavoidable calls to continue working, preventing you having a between-meal snack, which would put you at risk of hypoglycaemia and place you and others at risk. For example, a commercial pilot or a commercial driver.
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If you believe you have unfairly been discriminated against due to your diabetes, by either not being successful at getting a job or being sacked from an existing job, contact the Advocacy Officer at your state or territory Diabetes Australia office.
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It is probably wise to give workmates a simple explanation about diabetes (you can use the ‘Tell a Friend’ function on this website if you like) so that they learn more about diabetes and understand what is happening to you if you suddenly need to eat or inject insulin. It would be wise to make sure one or two key people know what to do in the event of you having hypoglycaemia. This however is your personal choice.