New research shows that 34% of people with diabetes feel unsupported in the workplace, highlighting an ongoing gap between company wellbeing policies and employees’ lived experience of the disease.
The survey shows that many workers still feel isolated as they try to juggle blood glucose monitoring, medication, diet management and the daily demands of their job. Respondents said open conversations about health and wellness remain rare and that employers often underestimate the physical and emotional impact of managing diabetes in the workplace.
This year’s International Diabetes Federation (IDF) theme – Diabetes, Wellbeing and the Workplace – inspired the launch of a new campaign entitled ‘The Day Diabetes Showed Up to Work’, which aims to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by employees with diabetes. The campaign encourages employers to recognize the adaptations, flexibility and understanding that can make working life safer and more manageable.
Organizers say their ambition goes far beyond a single awareness month. The initiative aims to spark long-term cultural change around diabetes support in the workplace in 2026 and beyond, emphasizing that true wellness requires a year-round commitment, not a one-off reminder.
The message is clear: millions of workers with diabetes are trying to achieve career success while managing a lifelong illness – and employers have a critical role to play in making them feel seen, supported and understood.
