The employment of diabetics.

Few studies have been made of the employability of diabetics, and recommendations concerning their employment are usually based on general principles. It is often considered that diabetics who are taking large doses of insulin should not be given work in which hypoglycaemic attacks might result in injury to themselves or others. However, the severity of an insulin reaction is now known not to be commensurate with the extent of hypoglycaemia; the dosage of insulin has no relationship to liability to reactions. A survey has been undertaken of the employment experience during the preceding five years of 88 diabetics who attended the Dunedin Clinic during four months of 1957. There was some tendency for diabetics to take sedentary work. The occurrence of insulin reactions did not handicap these patients in varied types of occupations nor in driving vehicles, nor was there any evidence of an increased number of accidents in those who were liable to insulin reactions. Only about half the employed diabetics regularly carried an identification card; several, including two who were liable to severe reactions, had kept their condition secret from their employers and fellow employees. It is concluded that the employment of diabetics needs to be limited only by their stamina, the presence of complications, and by their own good sense. Owing to the lack of objective information on the employment of diabetics it is urged that further surveys should be undertaken with the object of freeing diabetics from needless restrictions.