Managing diabetes at work: Your Health & Safety Responsibilities

Diabetes Awareness Week is an opportunity to highlight the importance of understanding diabetes and how it affects people in the workplace. With over 4 million people living with diabetes in the UK alone, it is vital that employers take appropriate steps to support affected staff and meet their legal health and safety responsibilities.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s blood sugar levels are too high due to insulin production or function.

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with type 1 must take insulin every day.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Often linked to lifestyle and genetics, this type develops when

the body doesn’t use insulin properly or doesn’t make enough. It’s more common and can often be managed through diet, exercise and medication.

Both types can lead to serious health complications if not properly managed, including fatigue, vision problems and in severe cases, loss of concentration.

How can diabetes affect work?

Diabetes can affect an employee’s performance and safety, particularly if blood sugar levels become too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia).

Symptoms can include:

• Dizziness or confusion.
• Blurred vision.
• Sweating or shakiness.
• Poor concentration.
• Loss of consciousness (in severe hypoglycaemia).

These symptoms can be particularly dangerous in high-risk roles, such as driving, operating heavy machinery, or working at height.

Employer responsibility

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Equality Act 2010, employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, including those with medical conditions such as diabetes.

Here is what to consider:

1: Carry out risk assessments / wellbeing assessments If an employee has diabetes, especially if their role involved safety-critical tasks, a tailored risk assessment should be carried out. This helps identify:

• Risks from hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia: Whether shift patterns or break schedules may impact their condition.
• Any adjustments needed to reduce risk.

2: Review work activities

Special care should be taken if the employee:

• Drives for work: Employers may need to check that the employee has informed the DVLA and is medically fit to drive.
• Operates heavy machinery: Risks associated with sudden loss of consciousness must be considered.
• Works at height or in confined spaces: These roles may require specific control measures or alternative duties.

3. Provide facilities and flexibility

Employees with diabetes may need:

• Somewhere clean and private to inject insulin or check blood sugar.
• Safe storage for insulin or medication (fridge access may be needed).
• Flexibility with break times for food and medication.

Being supportive and proactive with reasonable adjustments not only meets legal obligations but also build a safer, more inclusive workplace.

What employees should do

Employees with diabetes have a responsibility to:

• Inform their employer if their condition could impact safety.
• Work with health and safety and HR to agree on any required adjustments.
• Carry necessary medication and snacks, particularly if they are at risk of low blood sugar.
• Keep emergency contacts and medical information up to date.

Open communication is key, by informing their line manager and ensuring they conduct risk assessments, employees help ensure their own safety and that of others.

Building a Diabetes-Aware Workplace

Creating a workplace culture that supports employees with medical conditions is essential. This Diabetes Awareness Week, take the opportunity to:

• Review policies for managing long-term health conditions.
• Ensure managers are trained to recognise signs of diabetic episodes.
• Encourage a supportive environment where staff feel comfortable discussing their health.

With the right understanding and adjustments, employees with diabetes can thrive at work safety and effectively.

Get expert advice on managing diabetes at work from Peninsula

Peninsula offers independent advice on managing diabetes in your workplace. Our teams provide 24/7 Health & Safety advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of everything when you work with our Health & Safety experts.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with a Health & Safety consultant today.