For World Diabetes Day 2025, the spotlight is on wellbeing in the workplace, highlighting the significant challenges faced not only by individuals managing the disease but also by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes.
In Luxembourg, an estimated 35,000 people live with diabetes. The disease manifests primarily in two forms: Type 2, a metabolic condition involving insulin resistance, and Type 1, an autoimmune disorder that halts the body’s production of insulin entirely.
Jessica Durbach of the Luxembourg Diabetes Association explained that Type 1 diabetes is a condition that “really needs to be monitored 24/7 to ensure that blood sugar levels remain stable.” This constant management, which involves calculating carbohydrates in food and administering precise insulin doses, is a burden carried not just by those diagnosed but also by the parents of affected children.
Stéphanie Ravat recalls her daughter Lina’s diagnosis at age 14. The classic symptoms – weight loss, extreme thirst, and frequent urination – were initially not taken seriously, leading to a severe health crisis where Lina nearly fell into a diabetic coma and required hospitalisation. Following the diagnosis, Ravat and her daughter spent a week in the hospital receiving essential training.
“They gave Lina an insulin injection to bring her blood sugar down at all costs”, Ravat recounted. Afterwards, they had to learn how to work out the amount of carbohydrates in each food and calculate the doses.
She describes this as an enormous psychological and time-consuming effort, making it “practically impossible” to combine with a full-time job. Ravat points to policies in neighbouring countries like Germany, Belgium, and France, where parents are entitled to dedicated leave – ranging from three months to a year, taken in flexible blocks of time, to manage their child’s illness. “And it’s really well-suited for when our children are ill”, she stressed.
Durbach elaborated on the immense initial burden following a diagnosis. She emphasised that parents require a significant amount of time not only to comprehend the situation and manage the psychological weight but also to provide practical support for their children in managing the disease.
To address this, Durbach proposed that a new diagnosis could be met with flexible work arrangements. She suggested that parents be entitled to additional leave during this critical period, which would allow them to support their children and seek psychological help to cope with the associated pressure and adapt to the new reality.
This call for support may soon find a legislative answer. Upon enquiry by RTL, the Ministry of Labour provided written confirmation that the government is currently drafting a preliminary bill to reform special leave and leave for family reasons. According to the ministry, the proposed changes include integrating diabetes into the list of conditions eligible for family leave.
