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Employment

Work ethics

There are very few jobs that you can’t do because of your diabetes. But there are some things to consider when you go job hunting.

 OK, let’s just get it over with and start with the jobs you aren’t allowed to do. The reason you aren’t allowed to do them is because blanket restrictions have been placed on people with insulin-dependent diabetes applying for the jobs, which include:

  • the Armed Forces
  • jobs requiring a large goods vehicle licence or a licence to drive certain passenger carrying vehicles (PCV's)
  • airline pilot and in some cases cabin crew
  • working offshore, for example, on oil-rigs or aboard cruise liners (even as a caterer – an illogical blanket ban!)
  • there may be restrictions on other jobs, eg. train driving. These may be decided on an individual basis.

This may seem unfair – and Diabetes UK agrees – but unfortunately this is the case at the moment. However, things won’t always be this way. The situation is always improving.

For example, since October 2004, blanket restrictions have been lifted on joining the fire, police and ambulance service. This means you can now apply for jobs within these sectors, but your fitness to do the job will be assessed on an individual basis. People who use insulin and who already have jobs in these sectors should be allowed to continue, as long as they are fit to do so.

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Your comments

"i think that is really unthoughtfull because they are basicly thinking that all diabetes people collapse. when truely my diabetes is run really well, also some people have not yet ever in their life had a hypo. you could be supervised as you travel or you can be a co pillot. they cant stop diabetes people on flyng, driving ect because they expect over condictions, like epelpsia and so on. a diabetic person could be the best piliot in the world but they may not know that because they wouldnt even let us try. we could fly one hour flights and test our sugars before we do and make sure we have eaten carbohydrates and so on.

i understand that this is dangerous, but i think they should let us try. another thing that makes me very mad about this is it makes us feel like we cant do the same as other people, it makes me feel restricted. its bad enough knowing about what could happen to my fueture, now knowing that people arent allowed to cater on a boat. it is more likely for a human to faint while driveing then for a diabetic person to have a hypo while catering food on a boat."- Sarah