Night shifts and diabetes: what employers need to know

Auriel WetherallLived with Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years · September 2026

Yes, most people with diabetes can work night shifts safely. Plenty of nurses, drivers, warehouse staff and security officers do it every week. But nights can make diabetes harder to manage, so it's worth thinking it through with the employee rather than assuming either way.

Why nights are harder with diabetes

The body clock. Our bodies are set up to eat and be active during the day. Working through the night upsets that, and blood sugar often becomes harder to predict.

Eating at odd times. Meals get skipped or squeezed in whenever there's a gap, and vending machines at 3am don't help.

Tablets and insulin are timed for days. Someone who switches between days and nights may need to change when they take their medication. That's a conversation for them and their diabetes team.

Tiredness hides hypos. For people on insulin or tablets like gliclazide, the early signs of a hypo, like feeling shaky, foggy or irritable, can be mistaken for being tired.

Rotating shifts are the hardest. Switching back and forth between days and nights every week makes it very difficult to find a routine.

What the law says about night work

Under the Working Time Regulations, you must offer night workers a free health assessment before they start working nights, and at regular intervals after that. If a doctor says someone's health problems are linked to night work, you should move them to suitable day work where you can.

On top of that, if the employee's diabetes counts as a disability, you have a duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. There's more on both in Type 2 diabetes at work: the law in the UK.

Adjustments that help

• Fixed shifts instead of rotating ones, even if that means permanent nights. A steady routine is often easier than constant switching.
• Meal breaks at predictable times, so they can eat and take medication on schedule.
• Somewhere to store and eat proper food, with a fridge if possible.
• No lone working, or a check-in system, for anyone at risk of hypos.
• Hypo awareness for the night team, so colleagues know the signs and what to do.
• Time to adjust when someone moves onto nights for the first time.
• Thinking about the drive home. Tired and possibly low on sugar at the end of a night shift is a risky mix for anyone who drives.

You'll find more ideas in Reasonable adjustments for diabetes.

Do a risk assessment

Night work should be part of the individual risk assessment for anyone with diabetes who works nights. It's the best way to spot the risks for that job and that person, and it gives you a record of what you agreed. There's a guide and template in Diabetes risk assessment for work.

When nights might not be suitable

Occasionally, night work won't be right for someone. That might be the case if they've had several severe hypos, if their doctor advises against it, or if their treatment makes their blood sugar very hard to control at night. In that case, look at moving them to day work if you can, and write down how you made the decision.

What you shouldn't do is have a blanket rule that people with diabetes can't work nights. Every case needs to be looked at on its own.

Get it sorted

The Diabetes at Work Kit includes a diabetes risk assessment form, emergency procedures and the forms you need to agree and record adjustments. If you'd rather I handled it, WhatsApp me on 07817 126 276.

This is general information, not legal advice. For a specific case, speak to an employment lawyer or Acas.

Auriel isn't a doctor or a lawyer. This is general information from her own experience and UK guidance. Always follow your GP and diabetes team.