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Coping with Stress, Nutrition, and Balance
Most people living with diabetes are of working age. Managing the condition effectively in a supportive environment can improve health, prevent complications, and enable a stable, healthy routine.
Long workdays, stress, irregular meals, and lack of time for exercise can make diabetes management challenging. Proper diabetes care at work is essential for maintaining blood glucose balance, overall health, and quality of life — and it is absolutely achievable.
For about 70% of working-age people with diabetes, the workplace directly affects blood sugar levels. Regular meals, consistent glucose monitoring, and quick response to hypo- or hyperglycemia are vital parts of treatment.
Designing and organizing a work environment that supports these needs allows for effective disease management and helps prevent complications.
Today there are many technological tools that can make diabetes management easier throughout the workday. It’s recommended to consult your doctor to choose the tools best suited to your personal needs and work conditions.
Remember: The data collected by monitoring devices is private, and the decision whether or not to share it is entirely personal.
Many employees choose not to disclose their diagnosis to employers or colleagues due to stigma.
However, studies show that controlled disclosure to close coworkers or supervisors can allow for simple but significant accommodations, uch as flexible breaks, refrigerator access, the ability to test glucose during meetings, or rest during hypoglycemia.
Employers can make a major difference by fostering open communication, training teams about diabetes, and encouraging a supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere.
Keeping regular meal times and choosing fiber-rich, low–simple carbohydrate foods helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce fluctuations.
Planning your meals ahead or bringing food from home can help maintain stability even on busy days.
It’s advisable to seek nutritional counseling to adapt your diet to your work conditions, for example - choosing wisely from the cafeteria menu, preparing for a fieldwork day, eating appropriately during meetings, or planning when refrigeration isn’t available.
Chronic stress directly affects blood glucose levels through the release of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline).
Maintaining a balance between work and rest, taking scheduled breaks, and practicing breathing exercises or short walks during the day are not “luxuries”, they are part of ongoing medical care.
Employees who need insulin injections or blood tests during the workday should plan ahead, keeping equipment accessible, finding a comfortable, hygienic space, and maintaining routine monitoring even during busy periods. This helps prevent complications and fatigue related to “diabetes burnout.”
There is a strong link between diabetes and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Three out of four people with diabetes report feelings of anxiety, stress, or low mood related to managing the disease.
Research held at Leumit Health Fund show that people with both diabetes and ADHD are at higher risk for poor glucose control, diabetic complications, frequent ER visits, and longer hospital stays.
This combination can lead to inconsistent treatment, skipped monitoring, dosing errors, neglect of physical activity and personal hygiene, and particularly poor foot care, increasing the risk of long-term complications.
Integrating emotional support, through therapy, support groups, or community services, can significantly improve adherence to treatment, glycemic balance, and quality of life.
Typical symptoms: Sweating, trembling, confusion, weakness, dizziness, or nausea.
What to do:
A supportive workplace is part of diabetes care. When an organization recognizes the needs of employees with diabetes, it promotes performance, motivation, and overall wellbeing for everyone:
Refrigerator, private area for testing or injections, access to food and drinks, short flexible breaks.
Educate the team about diabetes, recognize signs of hypoglycemia, and know what to do in an emergency.
Encourage a calm atmosphere, balance workloads, and allow for short walks or breathing exercises during the day.
Provide balanced meals in the cafeteria, label carbohydrates, and prioritize healthy snacks during meetings.
Offer access to employee support services or workshops on balance and stress.
Allow employees to share information only with those they choose, while respecting privacy.
If you experience unusual glucose fluctuations, reduced performance, extreme fatigue, or emotional difficulty coping with diabetes, consult your doctor or diabetes nurse.
