Job hunting
There are very few jobs that you can’t do because of your diabetes. But there are some jobs where blanket restrictions have been placed on people with insulin-dependent diabetes applying for the jobs. These 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.