Diabetes nine to five: tips to help you manage your diabetes at work

Millions of people with diabetes refuse to let it get in the way of their careers.

There is no denying that having diabetes does present some working day challenges. Knowing how to deal with these is the key.  The more you know about your diabetes, and the more you know about controlling your blood sugar, the better off you'll be.

The more you know, the better prepared you will be to deal with any work situations that arise, including explaining your condition to others if you need to.

Here are some tips and advice on controlling diabetes in the workplace.

Diabetes at work: Start your working day the right way

Everyone is short of time in the morning but you should never miss breakfast, particularly on a working day.

When you have diabetes, especially if you are on medication, skipping breakfast can lead to dangerously low sugar levels.

Not only can missing breakfast affect your health but it can also affect safety and performance at work.

A healthy breakfast of fat-free yoghurt, whole-grain cereal, an omelette or even a whole-wheat bagel with cream cheese will help set the tone for a productive working day. It’s also important to have a meal plan in mind. This should be one that helps your energy levels and concentration stay high throughout the day.

One way to do this is to take a packed lunch and snacks to work. This way you know exactly what you’re going to be eating. In addition, if you take insulin, you should have food ready to eat following your injection. This can prevent low blood sugar problems that may occur when there is too much time between your injection and your meal.

If this is not convenient or possible, it’s important to familiarise yourself with whatever foods are going to be available to you. Whether the food comes from a sandwich bar, work canteen or cafe, there will always be some choices that are better than others.

A good idea is to learn what's in the dishes you think you might like.  That means going to the cafe ahead of time and asking lots of questions. The same thing goes for the sandwich bar or work canteen.

You have to work out what's best for you from both a blood sugar and a calorie perspective.

If you don’t want to reveal that you have diabetes, you can always say you are asking because you have various allergies or are watching your weight.  Experts also recommend compiling a list of "safe foods" that you know are going to be OK to eat no matter where or when you eat them.

Diabetes at work: Testing sugar levels and taking insulin

At some point, you’re going to need to test your blood sugar while you are at work. Experts say a little planning can make it easier to fit this into your working day.