Conflicting Logics in a Changing Action Space: Challenges Related to Type 1 Diabetes in Work Life

Well-being at work is important to quality of life. However, reconciling work and diabetes management is often challenging; failing to do so threatens the well-being of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We explored the mechanisms underlying diabetes-specific challenges at work using theories of logics, involvement, and action space. Thematic analyses of two data sets, consisting of interviews with adults with T1D (n = 22) showed that people with T1D experience a conflict between two logics linked to diabetes and work, owing to the contradictory demands of work life and diabetes management. Individuals' ability to lower the priority of work tasks-shifting them from their main to a side involvement so as to properly manage T1D-helps resolve the conflict, as does being able to create an enabling action space for diabetes management at work. These insights can inform interventions targeting the well-being of workers with T1D.