Beyond Blood Sugar: How Diabetes Impacts Workers’ Compensation Claims
Author, Kevin Howard, Partner, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
November is National Diabetes month and a chance to pause and think about prevention, early detection, and long-term care. For companies, it is also a reminder that chronic health conditions can quietly influence safety, mental health, work performance and even workers’ compensation exposures.
A Closer Look at Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. When insulin is not produced or used properly, blood sugar stays too high and starts to damage blood vessels and nerves.
Roughly 38 million Americans live with diabetes, and another 97 million are in the pre-diabetic range. This is equal to one out of every three adults in the country. I am sure many readers including myself, are close to someone who is battling this condition. I am glad to shine some light on important details regarding diabetes and how this condition can create a worker’s compensation scenario/claim.
Crossing Into Workers’ Compensation
Most of the time, diabetes is considered a personal health issue. However, under California law, it can become compensable when credible medical evidence shows that job duties or an industrial injury worsened, triggered, or complicated the condition. A few examples of this include:
A cut or puncture wound that heals slowly because of diabetes, delaying the employee’s return to work.
A steroid prescribed for an accepted industrial injury that causes a diabetic episode.
Rotating shifts or high-stress work that demonstrably throw off blood-sugar control.
Foot or toe injury that has a heighted pain level if the worker is diabetic.
The standard test remains whether the condition arose out of and in the course of employment which is a decision that depends on medical documentation and timely reporting. Similar to any other claim scenario, the more information gathered, the better chance your carrier will have to determine if the condition worsened or arose from the course of employment.
What Supervisors Can Notice Without Diagnosing
For all business owners, supervisors and or safety directors are in a good position to spot potential trouble. Watch for employees who appear unusually tired, shaky, or disoriented, who take frequent breaks for water, or who suddenly have blurred vision. If you notice something is off, pause the task, call first-aid or 911 if necessary, and then notify HR or your claims contact. Do not try to label the condition; just keep the scene and your employee(s) safe.
Rancho Mesa’s Approach
Rancho Mesa works with carefully selected workers’ compensation carriers and medical provider networks that understand complex health conditions like diabetes. Our in-house Claim Advocate, Jim Malone, brings deep field experience and a calm hand when claims become complicated. He assists clients and coordinates with adjusters and medical providers so cases move forward in full compliance with California regulations.
Four Practical Next Steps for your Team
Refresh supervisor training on health-related safety responses.
Make sure every manager knows how and when to deliver the DWC-1 form.
Double check that medical and personnel files are stored separately.
Reinforce wellness initiatives that make blood sugar management easier during work hours.
Diabetes is a complex pre-existing condition that can create complications with workers’ compensation claims. Like many other comorbidities, it can affect an employee’s recovery and overall productivity.
Reach out to me via email at khoward@ranchomesa.com to learn more about how Rancho Mesa’s approach can mitigate these challenges at your organization.
About the Author
Kevin Howard is a Commercial Insurance Broker at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., specializing in risk management and insurance solutions for artisan contractors including solar, roofing, and other skilled trades. Based in San Diego, California, Kevin serves contractors throughout the Southern California region, helping them protect their businesses with tailored coverage and proactive support. His clients benefit from access to exclusive tools like the SafetyOne™ Platform, RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal, and workers’ compensation claims advocacy services, designed to improve safety, streamline HR processes, and support better claims outcomes.