🚛 Why HGV drivers are high-risk for pre-diabetes & Type 2 diabetes

🚛 Why HGV drivers are a high-risk group for pre-diabetes & type 2 diabetes

This isn’t about blame — it’s about job design.

HGV drivers are one of the highest-risk occupational groups for metabolic health issues, and the reasons are structural, not personal.

Here’s why 👇

1️⃣ Prolonged sitting Drivers can sit for 9–11 hours a day.

Long periods of sitting reduce insulin sensitivity — even if calories aren’t excessive.

2️⃣ Limited food choices Lay-bys, service stations and tight schedules mean:

Ultra-processed foods

High sugar snacks

Liquid calories (energy drinks, fizzy drinks)

Not because drivers don’t care — because options are limited.

3️⃣ Irregular meal timing Skipping meals → long gaps → overeating later

This causes large blood sugar spikes and keeps insulin elevated all day.

4️⃣ Poor sleep & shift patterns Early starts, nights out, sleeping in the cab.

Poor sleep directly increases insulin resistance and appetite hormones.

5️⃣ Chronic stress Deadlines, traffic, road conditions, compliance pressure.

Stress hormones raise blood glucose — even without food.

6️⃣ Low opportunity for exercise Not lack of motivation — lack of:

Safe places to walk

Time

Facilities

Yet exercise is often wrongly seen as the only solution.

📊 The result?

Very high rates of overweight and obesity

High prevalence of pre-diabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes

Increased risk of heart disease and fatigue-related incidents

👉 The key point: HGV drivers aren’t unhealthy because of poor choices — they’re operating in a poor environment for health.

The solution isn’t “try harder”. It’s health strategies designed for driver reality:

Cab-friendly nutrition

Blood sugar–aware eating

Micro-movement

Sleep support

Education that fits the job

As an HGV driver and nutrition coach, this is the space I’m focused on — helping drivers and transport companies reduce risk without pretending drivers live normal 9–5 lives.

This is a workplace wellbeing issue, not an individual failure.

#HGVDrivers #DriverHealth #TransportIndustry #PreDiabetes #WorkplaceWellbeing #Logistics #OccupationalHealth