Table 1: Reasons to Initiate Diabetes Programs at Work

• Good blood glucose (sugar) control decreased severe eye disease by 76% and end-stage renal disease by 56% in people with Type 1 diabetes. (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group, 1993)

• Good blood glucose control also can improve outcomes in people with Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. (UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group, 1998)

• Significant cost savings resulted within one to two years when adults with diabetes improved control of their average blood glucose levels (as measured by A_1C or glycosolated hemoglobin). (Wagner et al., 2001)

• Employees with diabetes who controlled their blood glucose were more productive on the job (99% vs. 87%) and missed less work than did employees who did not control and lower their blood glucose levels. (Testa and Simonsen, 1998)

• People who had better control of their diabetes also had fewer medical expenses over a three-year period. (Menzin et al., 2001)

• The net productivity costs of not preventing complications once a person has diabetes can range from $3,700 to $8,700 per year, depending on the demographic group. (Ng et al., 2001)

Source: www.DiabetesAtWork.org.