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A diabetes expert shares some advice.

I’m starting a new job. Do I have to tell my boss I have diabetes?

To make good diabetes care part of your workday, you might consider letting your employer know about your diabetes. But the choice is yours. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you work for a company with 15 or more employees, you’re entitled to what’s called “reasonable accommodations.” This might include such things as breaks to test your blood sugar or to eat a snack that will keep your glucose levels safe.

For most jobs, you don’t have to tell your employer that you have diabetes during the hiring process. However, if you’re working in a job that requires a medical exemption (such as emergency medical technician or truck driver), you may need to:

• Undergo a medical exam. 
• Demonstrate stable control over your diabetes for a certain period of time, which varies by job and state and may need to be verified by your doctor; this could include maintaining specific blood sugar targets or A1C levels. 
• Submit related paperwork to receive the exemption.

No matter your job, if you take insulin, it might be a good idea to let a trusted co-worker know so they can assist you in event of an emergency. Good daily diabetes care can improve work performance, so be your own best advocate! 

Published on February 20, 2015.

— Advice by Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDN, CDE. Susan has a master’s degree in applied physiology and nutrition and co-authored The Complete Diabetes Organizer: Your Guide to a Less Stressful and More Manageable Diabetes Life.