College of Public Health and Human Sciences, H320 Spring 2017, Tyler Chase

Managing and Preventing

Type 2 Diabetes
Educating your employees is the first step

17 Million working age people are What is type 2 diabetes?

living with diabetes, some of which haven’t
even been diagnosed.1 This occurs when your body is
unable to properly use glucose
1 in 3 American adults (sugar). The pancreas produces
have prediabetes which puts them at higher insulin which signals cells
risk of becoming diabetic.1
throughout the body to remove
glucose from the blood. People with
$245 Billion dollars to lost work, type 2 diabetes still produce insulin,
medical costs and wages associated with but their cells become resistant to
individuals diagnosed with diabetes.1
its effects.2 Glucose levels rise in
individual’s blood which can lead
Medical costs are 2x to:
higher for those diagnosed with  Heart disease1
diabetes vs. those without.1
 Stroke1
It is still unclear why some people develop  Kidney failure1
type 2 diabetes and why some others don’t.  Loss of vision1
What is clear is that certain factors increase
the risk which include: Excess weight, which  Loss of limb1
may also include inactivity, certain races
including Hispanics, American Indians, Asian Americans and African Americans, high blood
pressure and abnormal triglyceride and cholesterol levels.3

The average American spends 47 hours a week at work. The number of sedentary style jobs have risen over
80% since 1950.4 The current working conditions in the United States have a negative impact on individual’s
weight and inactivity levels. These conditions make employees more susceptible to becoming prediabetic
and possibly getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the future.
 College of Public Health and Human Sciences, H320 Spring 2017, Tyler Chase

Strategies for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

Primary Prevention
Lifestyle changes and screening can help avoid type 2 diabetes.
 Regular screening to identify prediabetic symptoms:
o Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) between 100-125 mg/dl5
o Hemoglobin A1C levels between 5.7-6.4%5
o Overweight/obese5
 Those at risk of becoming prediabetic or those already meeting the
criteria can reduce and even eliminate their risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by
eating a healthy diet1 and reducing fat and overall calorie intake, increasing physical activity to
150 minutes/week, and losing 5-7% body weight.5
Secondary Prevention
Regular screening to monitor status of diabetes and blood content can help
minimize the progression and complications of type 2 diabetes6
 Controlling and monitoring blood sugar6
 Reducing high blood pressure6
 Working to correct irregular cholesterol and triglyceride levels6
Weight loss, physical activity, and improved diet can also help improve
conditions and reduce complications of type 2 diabetes evens after diagnosis.5
Tertiary Prevention
Regular screening and doctor visits help continue to monitor type 2 diabetes. These can help identify if
the disease is progressing or if complications are arising.7
 Oral medications7
 Gastric bypass surgery7
 Alternative treatments and supplements may be prescribed7
 Kidney transplants7

National Diabetes Prevention Program

The CDC has a National Diabetes Prevention Program that offers a Lifestyle Change Program available to
individuals as well as employers. The program has CDC approved curriculum with lessons, handouts and
other resources. Participants in the program will learn to modify behaviors that may contribute to
diabetes through the mentioned resources as well as access to lifestyle coaches and support groups.
Rates for the program can vary based on location, program type and organization so employers should
visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention for more information. Additionally, some insurance providers
may cover the cost of the program.8

References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (15 May 2015). 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/2014statisticsreport.html.
2. American Diabetes Association. Type 2. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/.
3. Mayo Clinic. (31 July 2014). Disease and Conditions Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/risk-factors/CON-20033091.
4. American Heart Association. (January 2015). The Price of Inactivity. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/The-
Price-of-Inactivity_UCM_307974_Article.jsp#.WSOVvIWcHD4.
5. Centers for disease Control and Prevention. Prediabetes and Primary Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/pdfs/ppod-guide-
prediabetes.pdf.
6. NationalThe
Center for Biotechnology
average Information.
American spends (August
47 hours 1994).
a week atPrimary
work. Thesecondary
numberandoftertiary prevention
sedentary for non-insulin-dependent
style jobs have risen over diabetes. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2397691/?page=5.
4
80% since 1950. The current working conditions in the United States have a negative impact on individual’s
7. American Diabetes Association. Living With Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/.
8. Centersweight andControl
for Disease inactivity
andlevels. These
Prevention. (14conditions make
January 2016). employees
Lifestyle Changemore susceptible
Program to becoming
Details. Retrieved prediabetic
from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/lifestyle-
and possibly getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the future.
program/experience/index.html.