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Publications and Products
Fact Sheet
Diabetesatwork.org
Launched in April 2002, Diabetesatwork.org*
is the first online resource specifically designed to address the management
of diabetes in the workplace.
- It was developed for top-level managers, occupational health providers,
benefits and human resource managers, and employees.
- Diabetesatwork.org is a free, easy-to-use Web site that enables companies
to assess their need for diabetes education at the worksite. Users can
download more than 30 resources that can be used to inform employees
about how to best manage their diabetes while at work and how to reduce
their risk for further complications.
- More than 30 lesson plans and fact sheets can be downloaded and E-mailed
to employees. Topics include general weight loss and exercise; managing
diabetes if you are a shift worker; supervising an employee with diabetes;
business travel and diabetes; and taking an occupational health history
for an employee with diabetes who is choosing a health plan.
- The Web site was developed in collaboration with the National Diabetes
Education Program’s Business and Managed Care Work Group and is
hosted by the Washington Business Group on Health. Other collaborators
include the American Association of Health Plans, National Business
Coalition on Health, and the Washington Business Group on Health.
Diabetesatwork.org fills a great educational need in the business
community.
- Web site content was developed by diabetes educators, occupational
health care providers, wellness managers, and health plan benefits managers
who saw a great need to make diabetes educational information easily
accessible and user-friendly to employers and managers at both large
and small companies.
- The information on diabetesatwork.org can be used to create low-cost
education programs, fact sheets, Web sites, and news health bulletins
for employers that can be printed in company newsletters. The information
can also be incorporated into current health management programs, health
fairs, and brown bag lunches, and can help senior managers make the
business case to top company executives about the need to address diabetes
in the workplace.
Making the Business Case for Diabetes Education in the Workplace
Diabetes is on the rise in epidemic proportions.
- Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes.
- Many people in their 20s and 30s were diagnosed with type
2 diabetes.
- Adults with diabetes die of heart disease 2 to 4 times more than people
without diabetes.
- The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults
aged 20 to 74 years old and is the leading cause of end-stage renal
disease.
- More than 60% of nontraumatic, lower-limb amputations in the United
States occur among people with diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes is a growing epidemic among Native Americans, African
Americans, and Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or
other Pacific Islanders.
Diabetes does affect corporate America and its bottom line.
- In 2007, direct and indirect costs of diabetes total nearly $174
billion a year.
- People with diagnosed diabetes, on average have medical expenditures
that are 2.3 times higher than what the expenditures would be in the
absence of diabetes.
- In 2007, Indirect costs include increased absenteeism ($2.6 billion)
and reduced productivity while at work ($20.0 billion for the employed
population, reduced productivity for those not in the labor force ($0.8
billion), unemployment from disease- related disability ($7.9 billion)
and lost productive capacity due to early mortality ($26.9 billion).
- Diabetes accounts for 15 million work days absent, 120 million work
days with reduced performance, 107 million work days lost due to
unemployment disability attributed to diabetes.
- People with diabetes have health a related absenteeism rate that is
0.8% higher than people without diabetes.
- The population with the highest per capita productivity loss from
absenteeism is males age 45-53.
Corporate America can help employees manage their diabetes or
reduce their risks of developing it.
- With employees spending more than one-third of their days on the job,
corporate America is in a unique position to address this health issue.
- It is in the employer’s best interest to try to work with their
employees who have diabetes or are at risk for the disease to improve
productivity and lower health costs as well as help employees stay in
good mental and physical health.
- Control the ABCs (A1c, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol)
- Glucose Control. In general, every percentage point drop in
AIC blood glucose reduces the risk of microvascular complications (eye,
kidney and nerve diseases) by 40%.
- Blood Pressure Control. Reduces the risk of cardiovascular
disease (heart disease or stroke) by 33% to 50% and the risk of
microvascular complications by approximately 33%.
- Control of Blood Lipids. Improved control of cholesterol or
blood lipids (e.g., HDL, LDL and triglycerides) can reduce
cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.
- Preventive Care Practices for Eyes, Feet and Kidneys.
- Detecting and treating diabetes eye disease with laser therapy can
reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60.
- Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45%
to 85%.
- Detecting and treating early diabetic kidney disease by lowering
blood pressure can reduce kidney function decline by 30% to 70%.
- Current data from the American Diabetes Association : show that
people with diabetes who control their disease by keeping their blood
sugar down cost employers only $24 a month, compared with the $115 a
month for people with diabetes who do not control their blood sugar.
Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful.
- Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can
prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of
their body weight, .by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of
physical activity 5 days a week. The key is: small steps that lead to
big rewards.
* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely
as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any
organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred.
The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization
Web pages found at this link.
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Page last modified: February 11, 2009
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
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Diabetes & Me