Living with Diabetes

People with diabetes sometimes face discrimination in the workplace. Learn more about what constitutes workplace discrimination, what rights you have and how to take action to stop discrimination.

What Is Employment Discrimination?

Employment discrimination is any adverse employment action because of a person's disability. This means that your employer cannot discriminate in hiring, firing, discipline, pay, promotion, job training, fringe benefits or in any other term or condition of your employment. Your employer also may not retaliate against you for asserting your rights.

For workers with diabetes, employment discrimination can take many forms, but typically includes a failure to hire or promote you because of your diabetes, termination due to your diabetes or a failure to provide you with reasonable accommodations that help you do your job.

The following information will help you understand your rights as a worker with diabetes and what you can do to make sure that you receive fair treatment.

Your Job & Your Rights
PDF brochure of information on the legal rights of workers with diabetes.
(Also available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese)

Getting a Job
Do I have to tell my employer about my diabetes? Are there any jobs that are off-limits to people with diabetes? Find information about getting a job with diabetes, and other pre-employment issues here.

Your Rights on the Job
What laws protect me from discrimination? What is a qualified individual with a disability? Find information about your rights on the job here.

Reasonable Accommodations
What are reasonable accommodations? What accommodations do people with diabetes need?  Find information about your right to workplace accommodations here.

Medical Leave
Am I entitled to medical leave to take care of my diabetes? What protections does the Family Medical Leave Act provide me?

Employment Examinations
Is my employer allowed to ask me questions about my diabetes or force me to take a physical examination?  Do I need a certain A1C level to do my job? Find information about your rights with regard to employment examinations here.

Safety Issues
What does “direct threat” mean? Can I be fired for having hypoglycemia on the job?  Find information about common safety issues on the job here.

Termination
Find information about what to do if you’ve been terminated from your job because of diabetes here.

Addressing Workplace Discrimination
What to do if you've been the victim of diabetes discrimination in the workplace. Learn about the ADA's four step approach to ending discrimination: Educate, Negotiate, Litigate, Legislate.

Specific Diabetes Employment Resources

Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
Information about recent changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Commercial Drivers' Licenses
Learn about the rules for commercial drivers with diabetes.

Fire Fighters and Diabetes Discrimination
Learn about national guidelines for fire fighters with diabetes.

Law Enforcement Officers and Diabetes Discrimination
Learn about national guidelines for law enforcement officers with diabetes.

Pilots and Diabetes Discrimination
Learn about the rights of pilots with diabetes.

EEOC and Diabetes Discrimination
Collaborative efforts between ADA & EEOC help to prevent discrimination against workers with diabetes.