Diabetes no be joke o! E dey affect millions of people for inside obodo, and as we dey talk now, about 38.4 million people for United States dey battle am. But wetin we go do for work wey go make life easier for those wey get am?

Diabetes no be say person no fit carry work, but e get serious implications wey fit happen if person no manage am well. If you dey work, dey transparent about your condition fit help you and your colleagues better. Kathy Utter, wey be health and safety boss for Midwest Region Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund, don talk am plenty times say no be every body go understand wetin diabetes be, so sometimes, people dey hide the truth. Na wah!

First things first, make we sabi wetin diabetes dey do. For people wey get am, body no dey produce insulin, wey be di hormone wey dey help move glucose from blood enter cells wey need am. If insulin no dey, glucose go dey high for blood, and that one fit bring plenty wahala like heart problems, issues for eye, kidney and even cancer. Wetin we go do? Education na di key!

People wey dey live with diabetes fit dey face symptoms like thirst, frequent urination, or even mood swings if blood sugar dey turn up and down. Na serious matter, and e dey important make colleagues around dem sabi wetin dey happen. If dem no know, nobody go fit help in case problem come arise.

Utter talk say: ‘Self-advocacy no be just for family and friends, e dey important for work too. If you sabi wetin you dey face, you fit explain to HR, your boss, and even your co-workers. Na better way to create support system for yourself.’

No forget say, negotiation with employers fit help as well. Some companies fit provide snacks, special breaks for insulin shots, or even allow person go check blood sugar when e dey necessary without wahala.

Support from workplace dey very paramount. When employers train their staff on wetin diabetes mean and di things wey fit happen, e dey help reduce stigma and promote better environment for everybody involved. Know say either formal training or informal safety talks, e fit do the magic.

Kathy add say: ‘No be anything wey cost plenty money we dey talk about here. Simple accommodation like extra time for breaks fit do a lot to help people manage their diabetes better.’

Sick leave policy fit also carry weight; employers need to make sure any health insurance wey dem provide dey cater for diabetes treatment. Some people dey fear to disclose their condition because dem no want make people judge dem, but e fit help improve wellbeing at the end of the day.

Last last, we go fit talk say managing diabetes no suppose be solo journey. We dey need teamwork. Everybody for work need to come together to make sure say people wey dey live with diabetes dey safe and happy. E dey important like Jollof rice for party!

So my brothers and sisters, if you dey work, make sure say you dey carry your diabetes journey along with you. No allow stigma, fear, or misunderstanding wahala your health and work. Di better workplace no dey just happen by magic, we go need to put in the work to create am!