Diabetes linked to colleagues’ attitude
Having friendly colleagues at work can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by almost up to a quarter, according to a new study. While the development of type 2 diabetes is more commonly associated with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity, research has shown that stress can also have a significant impact.
Dr Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Management found that low levels of social support and high levels of stress in the workplace can accurately predict the development of diabetes over the long term — even in employees who appear to be healthy otherwise.
The study contributes to an ongoing body of research linking work conditions to physical and mental health.
The researchers’ study of employees established that work conditions had a preventative or predictive effect on the development of type 2 diabetes.
Participants who repo-rted having a high level of social support at work had a 22 per cent lesser chance of developing diabetes.
Those who described themselves as either over or under worked were 18 per cent more likely to develop the disease. One of the most interesting findings of the study — that less workload is as harmful as heavy workload — shows that dramatically reducing the load of a busy employee may not have the desired effect.
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