Work and Diabetes: Why Young Adults Struggle and What Helps

Presenteeism means coming to work while sick or dealing with health challenges that reduce your ability to do your job well. Unlike absenteeism (missing work entirely), presenteeism is harder to see—but research shows it can significantly affect productivity and wellbeing.

A new study examined presenteeism in young adults diagnosed with diabetes at age 40 or younger. Researchers surveyed 465 employees with young-onset diabetes and conducted focus group discussions to understand the real barriers they face at work.

Among working adults with young-onset diabetes in the study, 67.4% reported at least one presenteeism episode in the previous year. On a scale measuring how much health problems affected work performance, participants averaged a score of 7.1 out of 10—indicating substantial impact.

Interestingly, employees with diabetes had better overall health—both physical and mental—and better quality of life than non-employed adults with diabetes. This suggests that work itself may be protective, or that healthier people are more likely to be employed.

The study identified two main factors tied to increased presenteeism: diabetes-related emotional burden and poor quality of life. These were statistically significant predictors, meaning they independently contributed to reduced work productivity.

Diabetes-related emotional burden includes feelings like worry about complications, frustration with management, or stress about the daily demands of diabetes care. Poor quality of life encompasses physical limitations, emotional wellbeing, and overall life satisfaction.

These findings suggest that reducing presenteeism requires looking beyond physical diabetes management alone. Mental health support, diabetes education, and interventions that improve quality of life may play a role in helping young adults with diabetes stay more productive at work.

The research was conducted through the PRISM-RCT study, a larger trial examining precision medicine approaches to diabetes. While this study identifies barriers and associations, it points to areas where future support and interventions could make a real difference for working adults managing diabetes.

Source: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.