Today, Nov. 14, is World Diabetes Day, which marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. Banting discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. It also lands during the American Diabetes Association’s National Diabetes Awareness Month.
(We compiled lists in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, highlighting some of the industry-wide initiatives for these occasions.)
ViCentra, maker of the Kaleido insulin patch pump system, said this year’s theme “shines a light on diabetes in the workplace, building understanding, breaking stigma and supporting colleagues who manage their diabetes every day.”
“At Kaleido, we’re there for users, by users,” the company said.
ViCentra colleagues Charlotte and Korelien both have diabetes. In a blog post, they outlined their experiences working with diabetes, what they struggle with and advice they have for others. The company and its employees said they want to highlight these experiences as people with diabetes may not always feel free to be open and honest about their needs.
“At my previous job, one of my colleagues believed for months that I was using a Tamagotchi during meetings,” Korelien said. “It was just my insulin pump.”
The experiences shared by ViCentra
Korelien highlighted how working at ViCentra “feels like a breath of fresh air.” Charlotte advises people to tell their colleagues about their diabetes, no matter where they work, so that colleagues are aware.
“Everyone here understands my situation,” Korelien said. “At previous jobs, people were all too quick to dismiss the issue.”
Both women bring different approaches to eating in the office or managing hypoglycemic events. They suggest that people with diabetes listen to their bodies and don’t feel embarrassed to take a moment for themselves. However, they note that everyone has their own approach, which is “perfectly OK.”
Tips shared by the ViCentra employees include ensuring that all needs — such as snacks, insulin, needles and back-up equipment — are always available. They also say to choose the right time to switch out insulin sets and remain open and honest with those around them.
“My diabetes does not define me,” Korelien said. “It is part of your life, but not to the detriment of everything else.”
ViCentra concluded:
“That is what World Diabetes Day 2025 is all about: creating space on the work floor for everyone with diabetes, so no one has to feel small. It is about letting a hypo be just a hypo and making sure colleagues know that it’s okay to ask questions. After all, understanding starts with openness.”
