Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Employees and its Role in Job Suitability Assessment

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in Iran and all around the world. A number of diabetic patients are in occupational age range and employed. Occupational health physician with the aim of decreasing both the acute and chronic complication of Diabetes mellitus in diabetic employees, play an important role in evaluation of these individuals. Decision on the appropriateness of a job for diabetic individual is a very complex and important issue. The least benefit which occupation could have for a diabetic individual is to earn money and cover the expensed associated with their illness, a point which indirectly improves their mental health including preventing depression, etc. Several factors such as diet, job-related tasks, type of work shift, history of hypoglycemia, etc. could affect the decision on the appropriateness of an occupation. However, in developing countries such as Iran because of lack of job opportunities and the probability of hiding the issue of hypoglycemia by job-seekers, job suitability assessment is difficult. Overall it seems that by making the work environment slightly suitable for diabetic patients, most of them could continue with their job. In this article, job-suitability is evaluated in regard to hypoglycemia condition in diabetic individuals.