Diabetes and the Workplace – A Growing Problem

Diabetes is now some three times more common than it was 20 years ago. 

Today, over 4% of Australians have been diagnosed with this disease and estimates suggest that should trends continue unabated by 2020 up to 17% of the Australian population will suffer from this ailment.  The growing prevalence rates are linked to low levels of physical activity, poor nutrition habits and resultant rising obesity levels.

Suffering from diabetes has the same effect on the body as having suffered a heart attack!

The annual National Diabetes week serves as a regular reminder to be vigilant in not only reducing the risk factors for diabetes but also achieving 'control' should the disease develop.

The impact of diabetes on the workforce and workplace productivity is significant.  With more and more younger people suffering from this ailment we are only at the tip of the iceberg in relation to the long term workplace impact(s) of this disease.

Given the amount of time spent at work, the work environment provides a unique opportunity, a captive audience if you like, where education, prevention and management of this illness can occur effectively. 

A Case Study:

One workplace diabetes prevention program provided by an external corporate health provider illustrates how effective such health intervention and screening programs can be.

In the course of conducting a series of health assessments for all employees of a major government owned business of some 800 employees, 37 were identified as being either pre diabetic or previously undiagnosed diabetics.  Thereafter a 12 month workplace health program was instigated whereby employees were encouraged and supported to become more physically active, change their lifestyle habits and improve their dietary practices via a combination of education, practical food preparation sessions and supermarket visits.

At the completion of the 12 month program those participating in the program had become physically more active, improved their diets and changed their lifestyle habits. Key measures of diabetes such as waist girth measurements, BMI and resting blood glucose all improved in line with these lifestyle changes. When followed up after 2 years all 37 previously identified “at risk” individuals had reversed their diabetes concerns!

Given the rising rates of diabetes in the Australian workforce, screening and instigating preventative interventions in the workplace makes sound financial sense.

Food for thought!