Promoting successful diabetes management in the workplace

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to learn from participants about their experiences managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes at work.

Design/methodology/approach

Longitudinal, qualitative interviews with 45 individuals three times per year over three years focussed on views about disclosure; how they found or created support to manage their diabetes at work; and how they experienced the relationship between health and productivity.

Findings

Among participants, the presence of secondary conditions, such as fibromyalgia or vision loss, typically overshadowed the effect of diabetes at work. These conditions were often mentioned as the reason why a participant changed jobs, stopped working, or decreased work hours. Perspectives on disclosure were affected by the perception of stigma and discrimination, as well as the need for workplace accommodations. Overall, participants believed that the routine of a job and feeling useful benefited their health.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of the research was not medical and the paper did not collect participants’ medical records. The paper relied on self-report for diagnoses of diabetes and co-morbidities as well as unrelated health conditions. Although the participants lived in a variety of urban, suburban, and rural settings, the findings do not reflect the ways in which differences in geography may have influenced participants’ experience. A focus of future research might be the role played by geographic location in the experience of managing diabetes at work. Also, the majority of employed participants worked for small employers. Future research might include a focus on participants managing diabetes while working for larger employers, who may have greater resources and staffing to devote toward implementing changes in workplace policy.

Originality/value

The paper considers the preference that many participants have for working and being productive rather than not working, including those with secondary conditions as well as diabetes. The number of participants (n=45) is relatively large for a qualitative interview study. The longitudinal nature of the study allowed for a follow-along opportunity that yielded a rich source of data.

Citation

Bose, J. (2013), "Promoting successful diabetes management in the workplace", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 205-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-11-2010-0037