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Rights of Employed Diabetics

In many countries diabetes is considered a disability, under employment rights and laws. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 protects diabetics against discrimination in the workplace. In Canada diabetics are protected by the country's Human Rights Act; and in the United Kingdom, there is the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. Although the needs of diabetics vary enormously, most patients can lead normal lives when able to monitor blood-sugar levels and insulin intake. In the mentioned countries, the rights of diabetics at the workplace are often the same conferred to any disabled person, which involves providing for the employee's special needs.

  1. Monitoring the Condition

    • Diabetics have the right to extra breaks to monitor their blood glucose and administer insulin, if needed, reports Diabetic Advisory. Those working in a public space have the right to a private room for the injections. Diabetics can also need more toilet breaks than a healthy person.

    Breaks to Eat

    • A diabetic under medication or insulin treatment often needs to eat frequently, to keep blood-sugar levels from dropping to dangerous levels, which can cause a hypoglycemic crisis. In the occasion of a hypoglycemic crisis, which causes loss of consciousness, the employee has the right to appropriate first aid assistance and time to rest and recover in a private room.

    Medical Checkups

    • Diabetics have frequent health checkups at specialized clinics. Therefore, they have the right to leave work for medical consultations and checkups or training on managing diabetes, reports the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If the job involves shift work, the employee has the right to request a shift that supports his eating and blood-sugar monitoring routine.

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