Wellness Pays Off
Investing in employee health and productivity is a proven business strategy for driving positive results at the bottom line.
One TriHealth Corporate Health client found some rather frightening results at their last blood glucose screenings.
As a part of their overall corporate wellness program, this client asked us to provide screenings at their Kentucky manufacturing facility.
- 37 people participated
- 31 of them fasted for two or more hours
- 23 of those who fasted fell into the pre-diabetic range (blood glucose of 100 - 125) and two fell into the diabetic range
The two employees whose results were in the diabetic range were strongly advised to see their primary care physicians very soon. One made an appointment after not having been to the doctor in nearly three years. The doctor diagnosed this employee with diabetes, with a glucose level that was extremely high.
This employee has been put on diabetic medicine. He now checks his glucose levels every day, has been exercising and eating much healthier, has lost more than 10 pounds in one month, and his glucose numbers have fallen back to the pre-diabetic range.
Why is this such a big deal?
Complications from undiagnosed and untreated diabetes include neuropathy (damage to the nerves in the hands and feet, with the possibility of ending in amputation), loss of vision, heart disease, kidney disease and other serious medical complications (higher risk of infection, return to surgery and more).
Cost Savings Potential
The cost of diabetes to the U.S. economy has increased 32 percent since 2002, or $8 billion a year, reaching $174 billion in 2007, according to estimates from the American Diabetes Association.
United Healthcare studies show the average annual cost for treating diabetics and pre-diabetics as:
Type of Patient Annual Cost
- Pre-diabetic: $ 5,000
- Undiagnosed diabetic: $12,000
- Diabetic without complications: $10,000
- Diabetic with complications: $30,000
*Source: HUB Magazine. 2009-04-22 Volume 8.1
This one small health risk can make a big difference in both your employees' lives and in your healthcare costs.
Contact us for more information on how your organization can get a handle on this and other risk factors for your employees.