How to Manage Diabetes at Work

A Proactive Approach

"Diabetes changes your life and your prospects," says Larry Deeb, a Tallahassee, Florida, pediatric endocrinologist and former president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association (ADA). "You may fall through the cracks. Or you may end up a prisoner of a job, where you say, 'I don't like it, but at least I have benefits.'"

Deeb advises a proactive approach. He tells people with diabetes to look for a career with job security and prospects well into the future. "When you're looking for a job, you have to ask: Who has the best health benefits and who pays well?" he says. "And if you don't like your job, saying 'Take this job and shove it' may not be your best attitude when you have diabetes."