Why Diabetes Matters at Work

Around 1.5 million Australians are living with diabetes, and hundreds of thousands more remain undiagnosed. It’s a serious condition that can lead to complications like heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, and nerve damage — but with early intervention, much of this risk can be reduced or delayed.

In the workplace, diabetes can impact:

  1. Productivity due to fatigue, poor concentration, or complications.
  2. Absenteeism and long-term time off.
  3. Mental health and burnout.
  4. Safety risks in physical roles or high-pressure environments

Employers who take an active role in diabetes awareness and prevention can help reduce these risks while supporting healthier, more engaged teams.

Key Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

One of the biggest challenges with diabetes is that many people don’t realise they have it until damage has already occurred. Knowing the early signs is critical.

Common signs include:

  • Feeling tired or low on energy
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Feeling excessively thirsty
  • Slow-healing cuts or infections
  • Blurred vision
  • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
  • Unexplained weight loss

If you or your team notice these symptoms, it’s worth encouraging a simple blood glucose test through a GP or onsite screening.

How to Reduce Risk: Eat. Move. Screen.

While genetics and other factors play a role, type 2 diabetes is largely preventable with the right lifestyle habits.

Eat Smart:

  • Promote healthy options in the workplace — fresh fruit, low-sugar snacks, balanced meals
  • Support lunch-and-learn events with dietitians or health professionals
  • Encourage reducing sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods

Move More:

  • Offer movement breaks, walking meetings, or stretching programs
  • Provide ergonomic assessments to make daily movement easier and safer
  • Support Active Office or daily step challenges

Screen Regularly:

  • Include diabetes screening in annual workplace health checks
  • Use National Diabetes Week as a springboard for a staff health campaign
  • Encourage confidential, accessible health assessments through your workplace health provider

Key Stats for Australian Workplaces

  • 1 in 20 workers lives with diagnosed diabetes
  • Up to 500,000 Australians are estimated to be undiagnosed
  • Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90% of cases and is largely preventable
  • Workers with diabetes take more than double the average number of sick days per year compared to their peers
  • Lifestyle change programs and early screening can cut diabetes risk by up to 58%

Get Support: Workplace Health Screening with Employ Health

Employ Health partners with businesses across Australia to deliver onsite health assessments, diabetes screening, lifestyle coaching, and early intervention programs. Our experienced team helps identify at-risk individuals and provides practical, confidential pathways to better health outcomes.

Start your journey to Proactive Workplace Health

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