Having diabetes can affect work productivity and earnings - and a new study shows that the impact is greater with the onset of complications.

Using data from the National Health Interview Survey and its diabetes supplement, researchers developed estimates of how the onset and progression of diabetes influences the workplace behavior of people with diabetes. The analysis focused on two components: participation in the labor force and actual hours of work.

Not surprisingly, they found a progressive increase in workdays lost as health status declined. Having complications was associated with an increase in the number of days lost by 3.2 days in a 2-week period compared to those who had diabetes but no complications.

They also found that having diabetes reduced employment by 3.5%, and having complications reduced employment by 12% compared with the absence of complications. In a financial analysis, the investigators estimated that the net productivity costs of preventing complications once an individual has diabetes ranges from $3,700 to $8,700 per person per year, depending on the demographic group.

These findings emphasize the need for people with diabetes to control blood glucose in order to prevent complications, to enable them to continue working and earning.

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