Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate how glucose metabolism in midlife is related to preceding 30-year-long employment trajectories.

Methods: In the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, we compared glucose metabolism at 46 to employment trajectories (previously defined for men and women and named as high-educated, traditional, self-employed, delayed, and floundering; n = 6399).

Results: Compared with individuals in high-educated trajectories, odds ratios for type 2 diabetes (T2D, 95% confidence interval) in traditional and floundering trajectories in men were 1.65 (1.02–2.68) and 2.42 (1.38–4.23) and in women 1.89 (1.04–3.43) and 2.60 (1.46–4.62), respectively. In self-employed trajectory in women, odds ratios for prediabetes and T2D were 1.66 (1.09–2.51) and 2.47 (1.21–5.04).

Conclusions: The highest risks for T2D in midlife were associated after traditional and floundering trajectories in men and women and after self-employment trajectory in women.