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  • With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators

    Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

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  • Aug. 6, 2009

    Blog: Diabetes and shift work

    By Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

4 comments posted

Do you have diabetes and work varying shifts? Do you work the night shift and find it hard to follow a diet and keep your sugars in order when you sleep during the day? Sometimes eating when working is when you get a chance to grab a bite. If there is no set schedule, hang in there. Managing diabetes while working varying shifts can be a challenge, but with a bit of thought, education and a plan, you can do a great job.

Take responsibility for your own care. Let your employer know that you have diabetes. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that employers provide reasonable adjustments or modifications to accommodate people with diabetes depending on the needs of the individual. Some employees may need one or more of the following accommodations:

  • Private area to test blood sugar or to take insulin
  • Place to rest until a low blood sugar returns to normal
  • Regular breaks to eat or drink, take medicine, or to test blood sugar
  • Leave for treatment, recuperation, or training on managing diabetes
  • Modified work schedule or shift change — you may need a note from your physician indicating that shift work interferes with your sleep, eating routine, and schedule of insulin shots that is making it difficult to manage your diabetes
  • Allowing a person with diabetic neuropathy to use a stool

In the next blog we will share different strategies you can use to better manage your blood sugar when working different shifts. We want to hear how you manage your diabetes at work. Do you let your co-workers know that you have diabetes? Share your workplace diabetes management tips with others so that others can learn from your experience.

Peggy

4 comments posted

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  • October 26, 2009 12:24 p.m.

    I work as a lawyer in a large firm and find that working long hours through the night under pressure (sometimes 48 hours solid, or 90 hour weeks) sends my sugars sky-high. Any other type 1s in a similar situation?

    - Elena

  • September 22, 2009 7:51 p.m.

    i, TOO, WORK NIGHT SHIFT (7P-7A), just started insulin, long with oral meds June 2008, stopped in Jan 2009, started back July 2009. Problem: severe body pain, tremors, fatigue, profuse sweating, inability to sleep & crashing low blood sugars that occur instantly. Have just concluded with my MD that I am basically "allergic" to insulin and diabetic meds---Wht am I to do?? I have off work for 3 weeks due to the complications. Saw a MD today to consider gastric bypass to cure the diabetes, but can't do that--I am not overweight(my BMI is 30) and will lose weight just by stopping the diabetic meds!! (the MD today told me to stop the meds and exercise!!!!) Anybody with similiar problems?? What can I do??

    - DEBRA

  • August 19, 2009 12:30 a.m.

    I had the experience of shift work and diabeties and it was tough.I started work just after noon and finished after 5pm.Try as I could I really needed my 12-1 lunch hour and with just a little break at 2.30pm,at 5pm I was hungry and tired as a lion!! I was really glad when I moved back to regular/normal work hours.

    - Amy

  • August 6, 2009 1:27 a.m.

    I have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and work 4 PM -12AM. It is difficult because at the end of the day you are very tired....if you get up at a decent time. I am up at 9:30AM and have breakfast. I get in a 1 hour workout then have lunch around 1PM. After lunch I prepare myself for work. I am a week into this schedule and the only problem I am having is....I am dead tired by the end of they day....and that is not such a bad thing......cuz I sleep well !!

    - Quentin

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