Impact of work pattern on the control of diabetes mellitus among industrial workers

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the impact of rotating shift pattern of work on the control of diabetic status among industrial workers. The study included 63 diabetic patients working either regular day works, slowly rotating or rapidly rotating shifts. Random blood glucose levels [mmol/L] and glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations [H[b]ai%] were determined at the beginning of the study, 2 months after specific health education and then after 2 months of fixed work shift time [for rotating shift workers]. Control of diabetes mellitus was worse among the two groups of shift work than that among regular day workers. Slowly rotating shifts were associated with better diabetic control than the rapidly rotating ones. The study recommended for diabetic subjects to carry regular day work or to have a fixed time for their shifts