At the symposium titled "Diabetes and Well Being at Work: Know More, Do More," organized by the IZU Department of Nursing, the relationship between diabetes and professional life was evaluated within a scientific framework.
Hosted by the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, the symposium took place at the Abdullah Tivnikli Conference Hall with the participation of academics and students.
ACAR: HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF A COUNTRY'S WORKFORCE CAPACITY
Delivering the opening speech of the symposium, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar stated that diabetes has become a global health issue. Acar said:
"Particularly in recent years, the data show that diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent in society. Factors such as an aging population, reduced physical activity, and unbalanced nutrition significantly contribute to this rise. This indiates that diabetes is not merely a medical issue; it directly affects employee health, workforce productivity, and the economic performance of counries. Healthy individuals are the fundamental component of a nation's workforce capacity. Moreover, the development of digital technologies and the transformation of working models have made the management of chronic diseases even more crucial."
BAHÇEÇİK: DIABETES IS NOT JUST A MEDICAL ISSUE
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Nefise Bahçeçik, emphasized that diabetes is not solely a medical matter, especially within today's repidly changing work models. She noted:
"Individuals within the diabetes spectrum make up significant portion of the global workforce. It is essential to examine the relationship between diabetes and working life from a s scientific perspective. Diabetes Management in the workplace encompasses a wide range of areas, including corporate health policies, workplace based training programs, the promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors, stress and burnout management, and interdisciplinary monitoring models."
As part of the program, Prof. Dr. Taner Damcı from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Hospital presented "Diabetes and Working Life: 2025 Perspective," Specialist Nurse Alev Kahraman presented “Nursing Support in the Return-to-Work Process for Individuals with Diabetes,” Nurse Tuğba Yola delivered a presentation on “The Importance of Nutrition and Exercise in the Workplace,” and Prof. Dr. Zeynep Oşar Sıva shared her presentation titled “Diabetes Monitoring Through Digital Health Technologies.”