Latest Resources
Employment and Diabetes: A Statement of the American Diabetes Association (2026)
The statement shares the latest in diabetes standards of care as they apply to the legal rights of employees with diabetes. It explains important legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws, employers should consider to accommodate employees with diabetes as required by law.
Read the Employment and Diabetes Statement.
Diabetes 101: The Science of Diabetes and the Law (2025)
The presentation provides an overview of the diabetes basics as it relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act and related protections. Learn about practice tips and how new diabetes treatments may influence legal needs across all areas.
View Diabetes 101 Webinar recording.
The Rights of People with Diabetes in Employment (2025)
Learn about evaluating the safety risk of employees with diabetes, reasonable accommodations requirements, and other legal considerations whether representing an employee with diabetes or their employer.
View Diabetes in Employment Webinar recording.
Diabetes Technology Accommodations in the Workplace (2024)
Employees may encounter issues with using diabetes related technology like CGMs in the workplace as employers implement policies to limit technology use. The fact sheet provides information and guidance about accommodation requirements relating to using diabetes technology at work and suggestions to request accommodations.
Read Diabetes Technology Accommodations in the Workplace factsheet. En Español.
Basic Information
Disability Discrimination in Employment (PDF)
(Brian East, JD – Advocacy, Inc.) (Oct. 2007)
A summary in outline form of the major federal laws that protect individuals with diabetes and other disabilities from employment discrimination, and legal issues that arise in these cases.
Employment Considerations for People Who Have Diabetes (PDF) (2001)
(Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Program on Disability)
Diabetes and Employment (PDF)
Diabetes Care Volume 35, Supplement 1, (Jan. 2012)
This document provides a general set of guidelines for evaluating individuals with diabetes for employment, including how an assessment should be performed and what changes (accommodations) in the workplace may be needed for an individual with diabetes.
Key Issues
Proving Diabetes is a Disability
Information on proving that diabetes qualifies as a disability within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other antidiscrimination laws.
Addressing Safety Concerns and Qualification Standards
Responding to claims that individuals with diabetes pose a safety risk in the workplace, including the direct threat defense and standards that prohibit or restrict employment of people with diabetes.
Commercial Driving and Diabetes
This page contains litigation materials related to the employment of individuals with diabetes as commercial drivers, as well as the application of commercial driving medical standards to jobs now within the commercial driving field. For more general information on commercial driving and diabetes, click here.
Reasonable Accommodations
Many people with diabetes will need reasonable accommodations on the job to enable them to properly care for their diabetes.
