9 to 5 and Glucose High: The Connections Between Work and Pre-Diabetes

9 to 5 and Glucose High: The Connections Between Work and Pre-Diabetes

Alvin Sherman Library

The topic of this systematic review is to determine if there is an association between parental occupation and the prevalence of pre-diabetes in children (defined as a person under eighteen years of age). Globally, it is estimated that 537 million people between the ages of 20-79 live with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the blood glucose levels are higher than normal. There are two types of diabetes. Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by genetic predispositions and cannot be successfully mitigated through primary interventions. In contrast, type 2 diabetes can be prevented through primary interventions. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are above normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Pre-diabetes can be caused by factors such as a poor diet and a lack of physical activity. Additionally, education plays a role in the likelihood of individuals developing prediabetes. People who are more educated are more likely to understand their health needs, follow medical instructions, advocate for themselves and their families, and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. Individuals with higher levels of education tend to have higher level occupations. Parental occupation can indirectly affect health education and therefore affect the health outcomes of children. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze current data, in order to determine if there is a correlation between parental occupation and occurrence of prediabetes in children. The goal of this study is to serve as framework for future research studies.