More working-age individuals have high blood sugar than ever, according to the CDC. In the US, an estimated 38.4 million individuals are diabetic, with 95% of cases caused by lifestyle habits. Employers who want to curb diabetes risk must lend a helping hand to their employees. Yes, employee habits are influenced by the kinds of support offered by their employers.
Employers can play a major role in stemming the rising tide of diabetes by making the healthier habits easier to achieve. As a lifestyle-based disease, most cases of diabetes can be prevented. For those who are already diagnosed, their symptoms can be eased and in some cases of type 2 diabetes, they can go into full remission. (This means they no longer need medication, and it can occur in as many as 36% of type 2 diabetics who change their daily habits!)
Perhaps most alarming is that almost 23% of US adults with diabetes are unaware that they have it.
Imagine the day to day life for these millions of adults. Most have noticeable symptoms and don’t feel their best, yet they don’t know why. They have sugars in the bloodstream, but can’t use them for energy, because sugars cannot enter their cells to be metabolized. Their daily experience involves low energy, especially after heavy meals, and poor emotional regulation. They have a significantly higher risk of mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Again, they are unaware they are diabetic who need treatment. And they may be on psychiatric medications or seeking other sources of support for their symptoms that could be resolved with the right treatment.
Employers need to consider how the lifestyle habits of their team impact the organization. Understandably, mismanaged diabetes is closely associated with absenteeism, which occurs when employees are present but unable to fulfill their work duties. The solution lies in helping workers understand that daily habits are adjustable, and with the right support, change is possible. The earlier we reach employees with support and resources, the better.
The body’s ability to resist diabetes weakens with age. Some of this is because we tend to become less active and lose muscle, a tissue that helps us regulate blood sugar. The CDC reports a staggering increase in diabetes prevalence by age:
Diabetes damages many organs (including the brain). The high healthcare costs are often due to treatment for heart disease, because high blood sugar accelerates heart disease. Estimates of diabetes-associated costs are $412.9 billion, with $306.6 billion in direct medical care and $106.3 billion in indirect costs. Included in those indirect costs are the higher prevalence of absenteeism and reduced productivity at work.
Experts on this topic urge employers to consider ways to support physical activity and changes to eating patterns. One such advocate is Dr. Joyce Lee, who has conducted studies on the positive impact of dietary support for diabetics. She states that: “people diagnosed with diabetes generally have medical expenditures 2.6 times higher than what would be expected without diabetes … If we invest more in people with prediabetes, we would have a practical solution to stop diabetes.”
Practical solutions, as Dr. Lee suggests, must focus on prevention to address the rising rates of diabetes. With Treo, your entire team can access personalized support. This preserves their ability to choose where to start and what to focus on.
Treo is a corporate wellness benefit that can help you move all your health-related links to one place, but more importantly, it helps your employees on an individual basis. As a corporate wellness benefit, Treo connects your team with habit-building tools, fitness and healthy eating content, and educational videos that encourage healthy habits.
For employees who thrive with social support, they can access weekly check-ins with Wellness Coaches free of additional charge, and support each other in community feeds for ongoing motivation. While behavior change is never easy, Treo makes it more attainable.
Interested in learning more? Let’s get in touch! Schedule a short demo today or email us at info@treowellness.com
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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