For instance, there have been stories of diabetics who have been told they can't test their blood sugar at work because the sight of blood bothers the other employees. Some people have reported they were told by their supervisor they couldn't take the time necessary to test their blood sugar level during the day. Worse yet, they weren't given a facility or private place where they could do so.

In the United States, the law says a person cannot be denied employment unless they're unable to perform specific duties associated with their job. Of course, the employer also has to make reasonable accommodations to allow the person to perform their job.This law only applies to people who work for companies that employ more than 15 people.

It's also important to note that an employer is not legally allowed to ask a prospective employee about their personal health unless they are asking all employees being interviewed the same question. If the employer doesn't ask you about your health, then you're not obligated to reveal that information. However, if they specifically ask if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and you don't tell them, you may lose some of your legal protection as it applies to job discrimination.

Many people think it is perfectly fine to let your employer know about your diabetes... the idea being your employer will understand why you might be making some extra trips to the bathroom due to your blood sugar levels being high, or eating snacks during the day to help stabilize your blood sugar. They may also need to know just in case your blood sugar levels fluctuate causing you to have symptoms relating to low blood sugar. Thankfully, most employers will be supportive when they realize you have an extenuating circumstance that you have to take care of during the working day.

As more and more people know friends and family who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it has become a lot more commonplace. This is why the rates of job discrimination against diabetics seem to be going down rather than up.

It is unfortunate when people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes face discrimination. You can learn more about your rights and what you can do to help by visiting the website: diabetes.org and click on the link to the section... Government Affairs and Advocacy. This section contains information on the:

    * current legislation,
    * health insurance issues, and
    * your rights at school or the workplace.

So know your rights and don't use your diabetes diagnosis as an excuse for poor work performance.

By Beverleigh H Piepers