When we think of diabetes education, we generally focus on finding this kind of information at the doctor’s office or perhaps on the internet. Workplaces often overlook the diseases that their staff members must contend with, especially when upper management is not directly affected. Yet, the workplace can have a significant impact on the early diagnosis of diabetes, as well as help patients better manage their blood sugar levels. We’ll examine how the workplace can implement diabetes education and how it can benefit the staff.
Diabetes And Prediabetes Awareness
In the United States, it’s estimated that over 37 million individuals have diabetes. This accounts for all three major types of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Reports also suggest that as many as 20% of these people don’t know they have the disease. Prediabetes is also something that’s expected to affect almost 100 million adults in the US, and 80% of these individuals don’t know that they are on their way to diabetes.
Many people don’t know how to detect diabetes, especially when they do not have anyone in their family who has the condition. Thus, they may continue with lifestyle factors that make things worse, only to be diagnosed with diabetes once it starts to cause complications to develop.
When workplaces start to introduce diabetes awareness campaigns, it can be a great way to help those who have diabetes or are prediabetic get an early detection of the disease. There are different ways in which the workplace can implement this type of system.
First, having a “health run” at the workplace can be a good idea. This allows the workplace to get a team of health experts in, and the staff is then able to get free blood glucose tests. Apart from the ability to test glucose levels, the management staff should consider offering additional tests, such as blood pressure and cholesterol too. With diabetes, people often have issues with their cholesterol and blood pressure too.
Management staff can also opt for the tests themselves, as this can help motivate for other staff members to participate. When staff members have abnormal blood glucose levels, they should be provided with educational resources about diabetes.
It is also essential for management to consider hiring speakers who can discuss diabetes, as well as prediabetes. They can target matters such as symptoms that people should be on the lookout for, and where they can get resources should they think they could be prediabetic. Additionally, it’s also important to make it clear that prediabetes often does not have any specific symptoms.
Creating A Diabetes-Friendly Work Environment
There has been a significant increase in the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes over the last few years. As the number of diabetics increases, so does the burden that the disease places not only on the healthcare system, but also on businesses. CEOs and business owners need to realize that poorly managed diabetes can contribute to days lost at work. If the patient needs to take time off regularly due to complications associated with diabetes, it will affect productivity at the workplace.
Aiming to create a work environment that is more diabetes-friendly is a great way to counter this. Business owners need to work with patients who have diabetes, but also to take those who do not have the condition into account.
This could include having healthy snack stations in the workplace instead of vending machines that offer chips, candy, and other foods that are known to cause problems with diabetes management. Providing employees with diabetes a dedicated space where they can test their blood glucose levels in private is another consideration for these business owners. This can make diabetics feel safe and more comfortable in the environment.
Switching to healthy snacks for employees can benefit everyone, not just those with diabetes. It’s a great way to address other problems like obesity, hypertension, and poorly controlled cholesterol levels among employees.
Diabetes Education Materials
Businesses should also make educational resources related to diabetes, its complications, and other common conditions readily available to their employees. It’s possible to place these in the tea room, for example. When patients have concerns about their health, they may find interest in reading the information these materials offer. This can also help them become more aware of conditions like diabetes and ultimately motivate them to see a doctor and undergo tests.
This particular strategy can also go a long way in promoting the early detection of diabetes. In those who are found to be in the stage of prediabetes, further educational content can be provided that ensures the person understands they still have a chance to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.
When a patient makes the appropriate changes to their lives while they have prediabetes, it’s generally possible to “reverse” that damage and improve insulin sensitivity. This can help to bring their blood glucose levels under control without the necessity for medical treatments and similar interventions.
In addition to these, the business can also offer advice on what causes diabetes. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, type 2 diabetes is often the result of multiple factors, including lifestyle. When employees realize they are risking type 2 diabetes by being overweight, eating unhealthy, and not adhering to an exercise plan, it can give them the motivation they need to make essential changes in their lives.
Conclusion
When a company has multiple employees with diabetes or at risk of the disease, it’s essential to provide proper education to these individuals. Diabetes education will not only be beneficial for patients with the condition, but also offer helpful information for other staff members to ensure they can react effectively to different situations, such as when a diabetic experiences hypoglycemia. This can result in life-saving actions by those who might not otherwise have known the steps to take to bring the employee’s blood sugar levels back up.