Making a Difference; The Business Community Takes on Diabetes

Making a Difference; The Business Community Takes on Diabetes

Approximately 6% of the American population have diabetes. Thus, it should not be a surprise that employees with diabetes are found at all levels of a company, from the mailroom to the boardroom. These hard-working men and women do not want diabetes to prevent them from doing a good job and, with your company's and/or labor union's support for their efforts to manage their disease, they can remain productive and contribute significantly to your organization's success. The purpose of this paper is to provide a rationale for diabetes action by corporate leaders like you.

Why the Worksite? What Can My Company Do?

Because most employees spend more than a third of their waking hours, on average, at the worksite, your company has a unique opportunity to provide them with diabetes education and support. You need not be large; organizations of all sizes can do something to help their employees. Specifically, your company can assist both employees with diabetes and those without diabetes by considering the following steps (which will be discussed in further detail):

Develop a supportive work environment so that employees with diabetes feel comfortable adopting and performing the behaviors that promote good diabetes control.

Provide encouragement and opportunities for all employees to adopt healthier lifestyles that reduce risk for chronic diseases.

Coordinate all corporate diabetes control efforts to make them more efficient as well as accountable within the organization.

Demand the highest quality medical care for people who are dealing with diabetes.