Employers and Insurers

At a glance

Supporting type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management is a smart move for employers and insurers.

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Employers

Diabetes in the workplace

People with diabetes live with the condition all day, every day, including at work. They may face unique challenges at the workplace, but they can overcome these challenges with the help of an informed employer.

You can maximize the health and productivity of your workers with diabetes by being more aware of common concerns in the workplace. Those concerns can include accommodations for people with diabetes and shift work.

Small adjustments to the work environment or schedule can:

  • Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism (when an employee goes to work despite a medical illness that prevents full functioning).
  • Increase productivity, concentration, and energy levels.
  • Reduce the chance of on-the-job injury.
  • Help you stay in compliance with the law.

These resources provide more information and guidance:

Addressing diabetes is good business

Diabetes is costly. Helping your employees prevent type 2 diabetes and manage their diabetes can help them be healthier and more productive. It can also lower health care costs for them and for your business. Smart employers know there's a strong business case for helping employees with diabetes stay healthier.

Diabetes costs

Indirect costs: almost $106 billion, including:

  • Increased absenteeism: $5.4 billion
  • Reduced productivity while at work for the employed population: $35.8 billion
  • Inability to work because of disease-related disability: $28.3 billion
  • Reduced productivity for those not in the labor force: $4.4 billion
  • Lost productivity due to 338,526 premature deaths attributed to diabetes: $32.4 billion

Direct costs: $307 billion, including hospitalization, medical care, treatment and supplies, and other costs.

Total costs: $413 billion

Source: Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022

These resources provide more detail:

Help employees with diabetes or at risk for type 2 diabetes

You can help your employees be healthier, stay productive, and control medical costs by reducing their risk for type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications.

Learn more about two evidence-based interventions and recommend them to your employees:

You can select benefits programs that cover enrollment in these two effective interventions.

Read about how employers can become involved in the National DPP. Use this toolkit for guidance in covering the National DPP.

Make it easier for employees to participate in DSMES or the National DPP lifestyle change program through flexible scheduling or by offering those services on site. Make changes that can help people with diabetes maintain healthy blood sugar levels. For example, provide healthier choices in vending machines and cafeterias

Insurers

Preventing type 2 diabetes

Diabetes and prediabetes affect the health and quality of life of millions of Americans in the workforce. These conditions also cost employers and insurers billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and medical expenses.

The National DPP lifestyle change program is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes.

The National DPP Coverage Toolkit explains how to offer the National DPP lifestyle change program as a covered benefit for beneficiaries, members, or employees at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Managing diabetes

DSMES helps people manage diabetes by teaching practical skills and personalized strategies to improve their health. DSMES can lead to lower A1C levels, fewer diabetes complications, and lower costs. Preventing or delaying diabetes complications also saves money for insurers.

Learn more from these resources:

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Diabetes