Socially disadvantaged diabetics
Data from the “Living in Germany” study show that only 58 percent of people with diabetes participate in working life. In contrast, the figure for people without diabetes is 82 percent. In addition, diabetics retire earlier on average.
Researchers have now examined the situation of people with low socioeconomic status, such as those with low levels of education or low employment and income. The result: not only are these people statistically more likely to have diabetes, but they are also disadvantaged in other ways. For diabetics with low socioeconomic status, the disease has far-reaching financial disadvantages, primarily due to greater reductions in pension entitlements and the resulting potential poverty in old age. The disease has been shown to lead to a significant reduction in productivity, especially among women.