Blood Glucose

As an employer promoting occupational health screening for diabetes is worthy and valuable as it is such a regular health condition in many employees and has a big impact in a working environment.

But additionally up to 58% of Type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented and delayed just by achieving a healthier lifestyle by making small changes.

Driving requirements

The DVLA has restrictions on diabetics who are on insulin stopping them from having Group II licences this is because it is due to an unexpected source of hypoglycaemia. This can also be accounted for in some cases train drivers and pilots.

Key points about diabetes:

• Diabetes is ever-increasing in employees.
• Diabetes is a chronic condition where problems may occur over a period of time.
• There are two types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. They have various different causes and require controlling in various ways.
• Diabetic employees should be assessed as could be having an effect on their current job role or incapability of completing it.
• Risk assessments should be carried out in circumstances where safety may be compromised to all employees.
• There are 4.5 million people with diabetes in the UK, the majority of whom have Type 2 diabetes and are in work.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is needed in our bodies as it helps to develop healthy cells however when cholesterol levels are too high this can increase our bodies to develop heart disease. As it can develop and increase fatty deposits in our blood vessels. These deposits can then increase and develop over a period of time creating difficulty for blood to flow through out arteries.

Key points about cholesterol:

• Cholesterol is fatty deposits in your blood and can lead to causes of concern.
• Healthy cholesterol levels vary depending on many different factors.
• Cholesterol levels less than 5.0mmol/l and low-density lipids 3.0mmol/l is thought to be a healthy level.