Diabetes Increases Worksite Accident Risk by 315%

Angelica Lawson
11 Nov 2024
5 min read

A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Work, Well-being, and Safety for Occupational Health Practice and Management Study (W2S-Ophm Study). It included 25,756 participants with no diabetes, 1,364 participants receiving diabetes treatment, 177 participants who had interrupted diabetes treatment, and 396 participants who needed diabetes treatment but had not seen a doctor. 

Participants with interrupted diabetes treatment were found to have an 315% increased risk in occupational accidents compared to those with proactive diabetes treatment. 

When categorised by industry, this study alone found critical information. 

Category 3: Transport, postal services, finance, and insurance industries 

  • Workers without diabetes had about 46% fewer accidents compared to workers managing their diabetes with treatment.  
  • Workers with interrupted diabetes treatment had a 315% increased chance in having an accident.
  • Workers who needed diabetes treatment but hadn’t seen a doctor had a 64% higher accident risk.

Category 5: Construction and manufacturing industries

  • Workers without diabetes had 67% fewer accidents compared to those managing their diabetes with treatment.  
  • Workers with interrupted diabetes treatment were 250% more likely to have an accident. 
  • Workers needing diabetes treatment but not seeing a doctor had a 25% higher accident risk.

These statistics not only highlight the importance of proactive screening and management of diabetes and worksite risks, but also show the significant increase in worksite risks that untreated or poorly managed diabetes causes. Given that there are over 570 million people who have undiagnosed pre-diabetes and diabetes who work in high risk industries, it is critical that employers are integrating the right diabetes health and safety practices. 

Reference: 

Ogasawara, A., Nagata, T., Odagami, K., Nagata, M., Adi, N. P., & Mori, K. (2024). Relationship between diabetes treatment status and occupational accidents. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 15(7), 899-905. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.14187