Dr Manish Bothale offers tips and solutions to better manage Diabetes in the workplace.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires round the clock care and management. A person with Diabetes needs to understand his or her condition and discuss with the doctor on how best he can manage his or her condition. As much as self-awareness is important in Diabetes, awareness and educating family, colleagues and peer groups is equally important.
Different occupation brings up different challenges for a person with Diabetes. In India, a person with Diabetes is eligible for employment in any field or office job for which he or she is individually qualified, except for armed force service. With new advancement in healthcare, people are increasingly engaging in various professions and are participating in activities such as scuba diving, mountaineering and rock climbing. A healthy lifestyle, watchful eating and careful management can help people with Diabetes to lead an active life. Below are few tips to keep your blood glucose levels within the target range while you chase targets in your job:
For employees
- Keep your co-workers informed about your Diabetes. Increased physical activity, too much medication, skipped or delayed meal/snack and alcohol consumption may occasionally cause hypoglycaemia. Discuss the symptoms of hypoglycaemia with your colleagues and educate them on how they can help you manage your condition.
- Carry a box of healthy snack and dextrose tablets on field work to prevent hypoglycaemia while on the move. Fast acting glucose gel or tablets can be used in case of emergency (hypoglycaemia).
- Understand and learn well about the different kinds of health insurance that your workplace is providing to you.
- Most individuals require oral medications and/or insulin, administered by a syringe, insulin pen or an insulin pump. Discuss with the human resource manager (HR Manager) about your condition and ask for a space in the office where you can take your insulin shots comfortably.
- It is important to carry medications, insulin pens and glucometer in a separate kit bag every day to the workplace. Also, schedule reminders on phone or email to make sure that meals and medications are taken on
time.
- Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels with a glucometer enables a person to adjust the timing of medications and insulin to match different activity levels and the type of food consumed. Check your blood glucose levels regularly in the
- Some jobs may not give you the privacy and time to test frequently, hence another option available is continuous glucose monitoring. The continuous glucose
For employers
- People at the workplace should be educated on Diabetes to promote a supportive working environment. Seek assistance from a health care provider and have a brief session on helping people to manage different health conditions at the workplace.
- Generally, people with Diabetes can recognise symptoms of hypoglycaemia early and treat on their own but sometimes they may require With proper Diabetes management, hypoglycaemia can be prevented. Create a care plan to assist people with Diabetes to tackle hypoglycaemia in the workplace.
- Make people in the workplace aware of symptoms of hypoglycaemia such as sweating, blurred vision, dizziness, trembling, palpitation, confusion or
- Keep a survival kit at handy to treat hypoglycaemia. If left untreated, the individual can become unconscious or have seizures. The kit should contain dextrose tablets or powder or fast acting glucose gel and snacks such as nuts
and glucose biscuits.
- Keep a glucometer handy to check blood glucose levels if a person is experiencing hypoglycaemia. If a glucometer is not available, the symptoms should be treated anyway. Quickly mix 15 g (3 teaspoons) of glucose in the form of table sugar in water or give 175 ml (3/4 cup) of juice or regular soft drink to the person to consume immediately.
- Provide a comfortable space for employees with Diabetes to check their blood glucose levels and administer their insulin doses.
- Sometimes, stress at a job or irregular sleep may affect a person with Diabetes and they may feel temporarily sick. Create a retiring room within the office premises for people to rest for some time and get back to their work afresh.
To conclude
Having diagnosed with Diabetes can be a life-changing event but with little modifications, guidance and support from the surroundings, one can very easily adapt to his or her new life and can live stress-free with Diabetes.
Dr Manish Bothale is a Consulting Diabetologist.
