Diabetes is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. For companies, it also leads to more sick days and less productivity on the job.
According to Kaiser Family Foundation data, the American Diabetes Association’s workplace cost calculator estimates that for a company with 1,000 employees:
- 100 employees have diabetes
- 27 of them are undiagnosed
- 250 have prediabetes
- $2.7 million is the average annual insurance cost for employees with diabetes and prediabetes
- $912,438 is the annual increased cost if 50 percent of employees with prediabetes develop diabetes
The good news is, type 2 diabetes can be prevented, and it isn’t as hard as you might think. Losing just 7% of your body weight (which translates to 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds) and exercising moderately (like brisk walking) 5 days a week can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58%. Lifestyle changes also can prevent or delay diabetes complications. Companies can help their employees take control of their health while enjoying interactive team-building events by participating in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.
Join the American Diabetes Association (ADA) along with our Honorary Chair Dr. Brian Woods of Northside ISD, Corporate Recruitment Chair Stacy Rice of Peripheral Vascular Associates, Step Out Event Chairs Lenore Gregson of Kaiser Medical Managemet & Jay Gregson of Hallmark College, as well as other community leaders at the Corporate Recruitment Event for Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on June 26, 2014 at Casa Hernán, 411 E. Cevallos, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This free informational event will be our official kick-off to the 2014 Step Out: Walk, which will unite thousands of people all over the city to help STOP DIABETES.
This is the key event in which to learn more about this community’s diabetes epidemic, the costs of diabetes to companies attending, and how the ADA can help. Companies will also have the opportunity to meet the people mentioned above who are supporting our efforts this year and will walk away with free resources for your company. This event emphasizes the importance and value of having the business community take a leadership role in the fight to cure diabetes, while also creating a healthier environment for all employees.
What: American Diabetes Association 2014 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes Corporate Recruitment Event
When: Thursday, June 26th, 6-8pm
Where: Casa Hernán, 411 E. Cevallos
RSVP: Email Lisa Gibson at lgibson@diabetes.org or call us at (210) 829-1765 ext. 6124
Many of the escalating costs of healthcare are out of an employer’s control. However, one of the most effective things an employer can do to control healthcare costs and improve employee health and productivity is to encourage healthy living in the workplace. Please join us in that fight!