Help Educate Employees with Diabetes Information

November is American Diabetes Month®, a perfect opportunity to educate employees about the seriousness of diabetes. In 2005, approximately 21 million people in the United States had diabetes (a disease associated with severe morbidity and premature death) and at least 54 million U.S. adults had pre diabetes (i.e., risk for diabetes).

The health care costs for a person with diabetes can be staggering. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion. Indirect costs resulting from increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, disease-related unemployment disability, and loss of productive capacity due to early mortality totaled $58 billion. This is an increase of $42 billion since 2002.

The workplace will be increasingly affected by Type 2 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes). Strategies for preventing and managing type two diabetes can help employees reduce their risk for the disease as well as other chronic conditions that may accompany the condition including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

It is in a company's best interest to improve the lives of their employees and family members that are affected by type 2 diabetes. In doing so, companies can achieve higher productivity and reduce health care costs.

To increase diabetes awareness in your workplace you might want to start with the:

• http://store.diabetes.org/products/product_details.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441763814&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302024142&bmUID=1226277877868 This kit includes posters, table tents and diabetes risk tests. These materials are ideal for employee cafeterias, break rooms, fitness centers and other workplace locations.

In addition, the comprehensive

• Winning at Work Guide http://store.diabetes.org/products/product_details.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441763798&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302024143&bmUID=1226275084026 took kit includes resources to implement a multi-pronged workplace program.

You might also want to hold a:

• "carbohydrate weigh in" in front of the cafeteria to educate employees on portions sizes and how to count and weight their carbohydrates.

There are many other resources to help provide employees with information about detecting, preventing and managing diabetes. Go to:

• http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/waw-additional-resources.jsp for more information.

Make November a step toward improved health and productivity for all employees with diabetes!