Work smarter. Live healthier. Fight diabetes together.

Every morning, workplaces around the world come alive with the familiar rhythm of ringing phones, tapping keyboards, humming machines, and hurried footsteps. Work is where we spend a huge part of our lives—sometimes more waking hours than we spend at home. Yet, in the rush of deadlines, meetings, and to-do lists, our health often takes a quiet back seat.

Testing Blood Sugar

Every year on November 14, the world comes together to observe World Diabetes Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about one of the fastest-growing health challenges of our time.

This year’s World Diabetes Day slogan, “Know more and do more for diabetes at work,” is a gentle wake-up call reminding us that the journey to better health doesn’t begin in a doctor’s office. It often begins the moment we walk into work.

Knowing More: The Power of Awareness

Knowledge is like switching on a light in a dimly lit room—it helps us see what was already there but unnoticed. Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges in the world, yet many people still don’t fully understand it. What does high blood sugar really mean? How can we prevent it? How can we support colleagues who live with it every single day?

By knowing more, we build a workplace culture that is informed, empathetic, and attentive. When people understand the symptoms, the risk factors, and the importance of early detection, they are more likely to look out for themselves and for each other. Awareness doesn’t just educate, it empowers.

Doing More: Turning Knowledge Into Action

But awareness alone is not enough. The second part of the slogan—“do more”—reminds us that real change happens through action.

Imagine a workplace where:

●     The Cafeteria  offers fresh fruit instead of only biscuits and sugary snacks.

●     Short movement breaks are encouraged.

●     People feel comfortable checking their blood sugar without judgment.

●     Employers support flexible schedules for medical appointments.

These changes may seem small, but together they build a healthier, more supportive environment. When a workplace invests in wellness, productivity rises, morale improves, and people feel valued—not just as employees, but as human beings.

The Place Where Work and Well-Being Intersect

Diabetes doesn’t clock in and out. It doesn’t wait for weekends or holidays. That’s why the workplace is such an important setting for prevention, management, and understanding. A supportive work environment can be a lifeline for someone living with diabetes—and a shield for someone at risk.

This slogan is more than a theme, it is an invitation. An invitation to learn, to act, and to care. To recognize that every choice—every snack, every break, every conversation—can inspire healthier habits.

A Collective Commitment

At its heart, “Know more and do more for diabetes at work” is a reminder that health is a shared responsibility. Employers, employees, and communities all play a part in shaping environments where people can thrive.

When we know more, we understand. When we do more, we transform. When we combine both, we create a workplace where wellness becomes a culture—not an afterthought.

 So this World Diabetes Day, let’s turn our workplaces into spaces of knowledge, support, and meaningful action. Because healthier workplaces lead to healthier lives, and healthier lives build a stronger, happier world.

Dr Stanley Johns Njattumkalayil

Research Scholar, Queen’s University, Belfast.