National Diabetes Month: The business case for battling diabetes in Indianapolis
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Diabetes has exploded in the U.S. and Indiana. Today, there is a greater than one-in-three chance you know someone in Indiana who has been diagnosed with diabetes (Type I, Type II or gestational), is prediabetic or doesn’t know they have diabetes. I know this from experience – my mother was diabetic, and my wife has had Type I diabetes since she was 13 years old.
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 1.7 million adults in Indiana have prediabetes, and more than 40,000 Hoosiers are diagnosed with diabetes every year. The numbers are stark, but the good news is that diabetes can be prevented or treated to not adversely impact daily activities. Prevention and treatment can’t be done in a vacuum, though. They require a holistic healthcare and community approach to change our state’s rapidly growing diabetic epidemic.
Employers are part of the solution – it makes good business sense to aid our employees who are battling diabetes and other chronic diseases. Diabetes is expensive, costing an estimated $6.5 billion in healthcare costs in Indiana alone every year, and that’s just on the clinical side. Diabetes saps strength from the workforce and disengages employees from their work when they feel poorly, miss work visiting doctors and specialists, and are distracted by general stress. Long-term untreated diabetes further degrades people’s health and leads to worsening heart conditions, vision, and even issues when walking which can lead to workplace safety issues.
Fortunately, much of the impact from diabetes is preventable through wellness “basics”: eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, managing weight and knowing your risk. Businesses can play an important role by investing in diabetes treatment and prevention. Here’s how.
Employee Support
The first step to treat or prevent diabetes is awareness. Businesses should support and encourage their employees to schedule regular doctor visits to help identify chronic health concerns at the outset. Employees with diabetes specifically should be able to see the specialists they need and get access to the supplies and medicine necessary to treat diabetes. Employers should encourage their employees to get the healthcare they need, either by providing health insurance or by sharing resources where employees can get free or discounted healthcare, such as community health centers, food pantries and more.
Not all employee needs will be the same. Someone who has been living with Type I diabetes since childhood likely has a good grasp on what they need to do to take care of themselves. Someone who has been newly diagnosed with Type II or prediabetes is going to need additional time and care to learn how to measure their blood glucose levels or self-administer insulin. A diverse workplace also needs diverse resources – Spanish- or Haitian Creole-speaking employees may need resources in their native languages. Ensure you support all employees.
Facilitate Healthy Lifestyles
Multiple studies have shown Americans are too sedentary. Employees have important work to do while sitting at the computer, but there are ways businesses can promote and facilitate movement. This can be through initiatives such as workplace ergonomics, such as providing standing desks or, for larger facilities, in-office gyms. Businesses can also facilitate movement through friendly competitions or team challenges to get in daily steps. Further, wellness stipends are a common and effective way to provide support to employees that can be used for anything from gym memberships or at-home workout equipment to mental health treatment or deductible coverage.
Of course, healthy lifestyles involve more than just exercise. If your break room is notorious for Friday donuts, unlimited chips or free soda, consider what healthy options you can add such as fresh fruits or flavored water. Don’t worry – I’m not suggesting you stop bringing in donuts altogether, but consider a build-your-own salad bar on occasion, as well. Every employer may not be able to provide multiple options, but encouraging employees to seek out healthy lifestyles and healthier alternatives in ways that work best for them is key.
Community Investment
Healthy lifestyles should extend beyond the workplace, but that doesn’t mean workplaces can’t contribute to them. Are there places to safely walk around outside of your office? If not, can you work with your municipality to invest in trails or sidewalks that everyone can use? Can you advocate for bike paths so employees can safely ride their bikes to work? Sponsor helmet giveaways for staff and their children? Healthcare is a community concern, and employers can contribute to their communities’ healthcare initiatives in a number of ways.
Again, the first step of combating diabetes is awareness, and today you can say you are aware of the rising epidemic in our city, the state and the United States as a whole. Employers can further aid in awareness and invest in your employees and the community at large to help everyone live healthier lives with or without diabetes.
Marc Hackett serves as chief executive officer of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center (JPCHC).