September 11, 2025
New University of Surrey study begins to support seafarers with diabetes
The Seafarers' Charity has joined with others to fund a new study aimed at seafarers with diabetes. With support from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, 50 seafarers with insulin-treated diabetes will wear glucose-monitoring kit for 12 months at sea and on land. It's hoped the findings will show how well diabetes can be managed at sea.
Physicians and scientists from the University of Surrey and Royal Surrey Foundation Trust are to lead a study into the control of diabetes in people working at sea.
Seafarers and fishers with insulin-treated diabetes can work at sea on merchant or fishing vessels. However, there are restrictions on the duties they can perform and where they can work. This is in line with the statutory medical standards for fitness to work at sea published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
During the 12-month study, which recruits participants at the time of their medical certification, seafarers and fishers will wear continuous glucose monitoring devices at all times during work at sea and whilst living on land. Researchers at the University are aiming to recruit 50 insulin-treated seafarers and fishers in the first 4-5 months of the study.
Those leading the study hope its results will show how well managed diabetes is at sea, and that those results can inform a review of the medical standards for seafarers and fishers.
Previous regulations prevented insulin-treated seafarers and fishers from working at sea at all. Today, restrictions for those using insulin apply to lone watchkeeping and lone-working roles, as well as working at heights. Seafarers are also restricted to a geographical operational area within helicopter range (150-200 nautical miles).
The current guidelines’ primary concern is seafarers suffering cognitive impairment or incapacitation due to their condition, and requiring medical care that cannot be offered on board. They place heavy emphasis on the need for good control of glucose levels. Researchers will monitor seafarers’ levels of glucose to help give an insight into if and when they change during time on land and at sea.
“Diabetes care has improved significantly in the last 20 years with patients managing and monitoring their insulin levels with relative ease. Despite this, those with diabetes remain excluded from safety critical roles due to their condition, and the advances in medicine and technology have not been acknowledged. When controlled properly, diabetes should not prohibit an individual from doing safety critical roles. However, before this becomes a reality it is important that we demonstrate that all safety measures are met.” - David Russell-Jones, Professor of Diabetes & Endocrinology at the University of Surrey, and Consultant at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust
The study was made possible by a £40,000 award from The Seafarers’ Charity and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust, and is supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
