World Diabetes Day 2025

Each year on 14 November, millions across the globe recognise World Diabetes Day (WDD), a campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO). For 2025, the overarching theme is “Diabetes and Well-Being”. This broad focus highlights the importance of supporting physical health, mental wellness, and quality of life for people living with diabetes.

Within this theme, the campaign focus for 14 November 2025 is “Diabetes and the Workplace.” This spotlight calls attention to the challenges employees with diabetes face, from managing their condition during shifts and meetings, to navigating stress, stigma, or inconsistent support. It also emphasises employers’ responsibilities to ensure workplaces are safe, inclusive, and responsive to long-term health conditions.

In the United Kingdom, where diabetes affects millions of working-age adults, the workplace is more than a setting of employment, it is a critical environment for prevention, early identification, health equity, and safeguarding. For organisations in highly regulated sectors, including health and social care, education, finance, local government, transport, and other public-facing services, this year’s theme carries significant governance and compliance implications.

In this blog, Anna Nova Galeon will explores the key concepts behind World Diabetes Day 2025, defines essential terms, and examines what “Diabetes, Well-Being, and the Workplace” means for regulated organisations. It concludes with a practical call to action for organisations aiming to strengthen their compliance posture and workforce management through ComplyPlus™.

Understanding diabetes - Key terms and concepts

A strong understanding of diabetes helps organisations build safe, inclusive, and compliant workplaces. Below are essential definitions that form the foundation of effective governance and workforce planning.

Diabetes

A chronic condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively. Without proper management, high blood glucose can lead to serious and long-term complications.

Type 1 diabetes

An autoimmune condition is typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, though it can develop at any age. People with Type 1 diabetes require daily insulin and precise monitoring.

Type 2 diabetes

A metabolic condition strongly linked to lifestyle factors, though genetics also plays a significant role. It is far more common than Type 1 and is often preventable or manageable through lifestyle and medical interventions.

Gestational diabetes

A temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It typically resolves after birth, but increases future health risks.

Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia

• Hypoglycaemia - Urgently low blood sugar levels requiring immediate intervention

• Hyperglycaemia - High blood sugar levels, which can lead to long-term health complications.

These terms underpin safe workforce practices, emergency response planning, and health-related risk management.

Why the 2025 theme matters - Diabetes and the workplace

World Diabetes Day 2025 combines two powerful messages: supporting overall well-being and strengthening workplace inclusivity. For regulated sectors, these messages translate directly into expectations around governance, equality, safety, and leadership.

Below are the six key implications:

1. Legal Duties Under the Equality Act 2010

Diabetes, particularly Type 1 and long-term Type 2, can be classified as a disability under the Equality Act. This creates a legal obligation for employers and education providers to:

• Make reasonable adjustments, such as flexible breaks, modified duties, or meal arrangements

• Avoid discrimination in recruitment, progression, and attendance management

• Ensure policies do not disadvantage or exclude people with chronic health conditions.

Failure to comply may result in claims of discrimination, reputational harm, and regulatory scrutiny.

2. Health, safety, and workplace risk management

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expects employers to identify and manage risks associated with chronic conditions in the workplace. For diabetes, this includes:

• Allowing access to snacks, water, testing equipment, and medication.

• Ensuring shift patterns and break schedules do not put staff at risk.

• Recording and responding to hypoglycaemic incidents

• Conducting tailored and up-to-date risk assessments.

In settings such as healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and education, timely intervention may be lifesaving.

3. Workforce well-being and mental health considerations

This year's theme emphasises the mental and emotional challenges associated with diabetes management in the workplace, such as:

• Fear of stigma

• Anxiety about discussing medical needs

• Discomfort around meal or medication timing

• Stress from unpredictable shifts

• Burnout from managing a lifelong condition.

Regulated organisations must demonstrate proactive support, contributing to safer, healthier, and more inclusive teams.

4. Operational continuity and workforce planning

Employees living with diabetes may require:

• Time for appointments

• Adjustments to fatigue-related risks

• Support during unpredictable episodes

• Clear guidance on absence and return-to-work procedures.

Embedding structured processes protects workforce stability and ensures safe staffing levels, critical for CQC-regulated services, schools, and public-facing organisations.

5. Safeguarding implications in health, social care, and education

For organisations supporting children, older adults, or vulnerable people, diabetes management is a safeguarding issue. Providers must:

• Have accurate, up-to-date care plans

• Ensure staff are trained to recognise complications

• Manage medication safely and legally

• Promote nutritional choices and physical activity.

This aligns with Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework, the CQC’s Single Assessment Framework, and statutory safeguarding guidance.

6. Addressing health inequalities

Diabetes disproportionately affects:

• People from ethnic minority backgrounds

• Communities in deprived areas

• Older adults

• People facing obesity, food insecurity, or limited access to healthcare.

Regulated organisations must demonstrate awareness of health inequalities and consider them in their equality impact assessments, recruitment practices, staff support, and care planning.

Practical actions organisations can take for WDD 2025

World Diabetes Day is a valuable opportunity to review systems, strengthen processes, and demonstrate compliance with best practices. Below are the five practical actions your organisation can take:

1. Update or audit health-related policies

Including:

• Equality and diversity

• Reasonable adjustments

• Medication and emergency response

• Health and well-being

• Sickness, fatigue, and attendance.

2. Provide targeted diabetes awareness training

Training should cover:

• Symptom recognition

• Emergency response

• Legal obligations

• Person-centred care

• Workplace risk management.

3. Conduct individualised risk assessments

Particularly for roles involving:

• Lone working

• Driving

• Machinery operation

• Shift work

• High-stress environments.

4. Strengthen emergency preparedness

Ensure staff know:

• Where medication is stored

• How to respond to hypoglycaemia

• When to call emergency services

• How to document incidents appropriately.

5. Promote a Supportive and Inclusive Workplace Culture

This includes:

• Open communication without stigma

• Access to wellbeing resources

• Supportive management conversations

• Occupational health input.

Diabetes, well-being, and the workplace - A strategic compliance opportunity

The 2025 theme calls organisations to look beyond awareness and instead embed meaningful, well-evidenced support. For regulated organisations, this intersects with expectations around:

• Workforce wellbeing

• Safety and risk management

• Equality and human rights

• Leadership and culture

• Governance and documentation

• Inspection readiness

By aligning practices with World Diabetes Day 2025, organisations strengthen both workforce wellbeing and their regulatory posture.

Strengthen compliance with ComplyPlus™ - Your next step

At The Mandatory Training Group, we help organisations meet their compliance duties with confidence. Through the ComplyPlus™, organisations can:

• Deliver diabetes awareness and health-related training

• Manage policies and procedures centrally

• Track workforce competencies

• Conduct risk assessments

• Audit care plans and documentation

• Prepare for CQC, Ofsted, HSE, and FCA inspections

• Access real-time dashboards for governance assurance.

Whether you operate in health and social care, education, local government, financial services, or wider regulated industries, ComplyPlus™ empowers you to build safer, healthier, and more supportive workplaces.