Can having diabetes legally prevent me from pursuing certain careers?

The vast majority of career paths are entirely open to people with diabetes, and laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) strictly protect against workplace discrimination. Employers must provide "reasonable accommodations," such as allowing breaks to check blood sugar or eat a snack. However, there are a few highly specific roles—such as commercial airline pilots, certain active-duty military positions, or commercial truck drivers—that have strict, specific medical clearance guidelines regarding insulin dependency, though many of these restrictions have become much more flexible in recent years.