Long working hours fuel diabetes risk

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BRISBANE: Diabetes Queensland says longer working hours are increasing people's risk of developing the chronic disease.

The organisation polled 600 people in Brisbane and found half of them work extra hours, and two-thirds work through their lunch break.

Chief executive Michelle Trute says there is a direct link between working hours and type two diabetes.

"If you're working longer hours, what we're finding is you're going home a little bit later, so it starts to encroach on any time that you could have put towards physical activity," she said.

"If you're working longer hours, you'll also find that you may not have enough time to plan for a healthy meal and reflect on what you've eaten during the day, and also sleep deprivation."

Ms Trute says an information kit is being launched for workers and employers.

"It's no point in the employees trying to be healthy if the workplace itself doesn't allow them to do that," she said.

"It's about making sure that there's a bike station to tie your bikes up to securely, making sure that there's some showers in your workplace, making sure that there's lots of water available for staff.

"Because at the end of the day, healthy staff mean healthy profits."