Diabetes in the Workplace: The Hazards of Hypoglycemia

Details

• Personal Author:
  Clark K ; Gerbo RM ; Jin CF
• Description:
  Purpose of Review: The effects of hypoglycemia can result in injury, including at work. Our goal was to review the recent medical literature regarding hypoglycemia and occupational injuries and provide guidance to clinicians asked to render opinions regarding fitness for work duties in individuals with diabetes. Recent Findings: Recent studies contain conflicting conclusions regarding the occupational risks posed by workers with diabetes. However, the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concluded there was sufficient evidence to change the rule that previously disqualified commercial drivers with insulin-treated diabetes. Summary: Blanket employment policies that disqualify workers with diabetes are unnecessary in many occupational fields. In assessing occupational risks and fitness for duty in workers with diabetes, it is important to perform an individualized assessment of the worker and consider the risk factors for hypoglycemia, information from the treating clinician, essential functions of the job, and, if needed, availability of reasonable accommodations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Hematologic Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Occupational Hazards Blood Sugar Disorders Diabetes Hypoglycemia Injuries Medical Fitness Evaluation Occupational Hazards Risk Factors Workplace Accommodations
• ISSN:
  1534-4827
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063372
• Citation:
  Curr Diab Rep 2019 Nov; 19(11):119
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert M. Gerbo, Department of Occupational and Environmental Sciences, Section of Occupational Medicine, West Virginia University School of Public Health, 3860 Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506-9145, USA
• Email:
  rgerbo@hsc.wvu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  West Virginia University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Current Diabetes Reports
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fc44af626e093d4b496e9597b4bfbba03e8e0def82d9db7698d332944f9fb65982a2eb45d837429b9db6317f1553e74f365032085eae12ed4610600512b77174
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226447/cdc_226447_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 295.26 KB ]