Workplaces must tackle diabetes risk

EACH year on November 14, people across the globe mark World Diabetes Day, commemorating the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin.

- ANKIA COETZEE

The International Diabetes Federation’s theme for 2025 is “Diabetes and Well-Being’, with a special focus on “Diabetes and the Workplace.’ This emphasis is especially urgent in South Africa, where diabetes is increasing rapidly and the workplace is both an arena of risk and of opportunity.

Globally, more than 580 million adults live with diabetes, and this number is projected to exceed 700 million by 2045. In South Africa, over 2.3 million adults are affected and nearly half remain undiagnosed. Sedentary lifestyles, urbanisation, processed diets, and socioeconomic disparities are major drivers of the epidemic.

Obesity is closely linked: excess weight increases insulin resistance, accelerates the onset of type 2 diabetes, and heightens many of the complications. Together, diabetes and obesity place a heavy burden on both individuals and the national economy. In South Africa, diabetes is already the second leading cause of death among women and contributes heavily to cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and preventable amputations.

But diabetes (and its twin challenge, obesity) is not solely a public health concern; it impacts workplaces. It affects employees’ productivity and well-being and leads to absenteeism, making the workplace a critical site for both risk and intervention.

Even healthcare professionals are not immune. A 2019 study at a local hospital found high rates of overweight, obesity, hypertension, unhealthy levels of fats in the blood and undiagnosed high blood sugar levels among hospital staff, including doctors, nurses and support personnel. This points to a stark reality: medical knowledge alone does not guarantee protection and even workplaces the medical sector must actively respond.