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Disease severity, treatment needs prompt type 2 diabetes disclosure in workplace
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Adults with long-standing type 2 diabetes who use injectable medications, such as insulin, or take at least 10 sick days per year are more likely to disclose their disease status to their employer than adults who take oral or no antidiabetic medications and have a shorter disease duration, according to findings from researchers in Denmark.
“People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Denmark are, with a handful of exceptions ... under no legal obligation to disclosure the condition to their employer,” Kasper Olesen, PhD, of the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, and colleagues wrote. “In most jobs, however, disclosure of diabetes at the workplace is necessary for optimal self-management during work hours. Nondisclosure may lead to impaired self-management behaviors, such as adverse eating, inexpedient consumption of medication, delayed glucose monitoring or delayed management of hypoglycemia.”
Olesen and colleagues analyzed survey data from 720 employed adults with type 2 diabetes who were existing members of a national web-based panel in Denmark (mean age, 51 years; mean diabetes duration, 8 years). Responders completing an online questionnaire in 2015 were asked whether their employer knew they had type 2 diabetes and whether they had disclosed their diabetes status to a colleague. In addition, participants were asked, “To what degree do you consider it an employer’s responsibility to secure a flexible work environment for people with diabetes?” Participants were also asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following: “I receive the respect I deserve from my superior or respective relevant person.” Researchers used logistic regression to estimate the associations between included factors and the probability of disclosure to an employer.
Within the cohort, 77% reported disclosing their diabetes status to their employer; 87% reported disclosing their disease status to colleagues.
Researchers found that taking at least 10 days per year of sick leave was most associated with disclosing diabetes status when compared with those who took no sick leave (OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 2.05-4.61). Compared with participants using no antidiabetic medications, those using injectable therapies were more likely to disclosure their diabetes to an employer (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.66-4.86), as were those who reported receiving support from a superior at work (OR = 1.41; 95% CI, 1.09-1.82).
In contrast, responders who attained at least 5 years of higher education were less likely to disclose their diabetes status (OR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23-0.94) when compared with those who attained less than 5 years of higher education (OR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.53-1.66).
“These findings point to psychosocial work environment factors as important determinants of disclosure, which is consistent with previous studies,” the researchers wrote. “Despite the potential benefits of disclosing diabetes, an employee might fear, for whatever reason, that disclosure of diabetes may have unwanted consequences. Studies have shown that onset of diabetes is a predictor for future income loss.”
The researchers noted that “fear of stigma” can be a barrier for disclosure, and further studies are needed to explore the impact of psychosocial work environment and the pros and cons of disclosing a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at work. – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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