Diabetes is a significant issue in the United States, affecting 10.5% of the population. It is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Your body typically breaks down food into sugar (glucose) and distributes it into your bloodstream.
If your blood sugar goes up, it triggers your pancreas to release insulin, which allows the blood sugar into your body's cells to use for energy.
With diabetes, your body doesn't create enough insulin or isn't able to use it effectively. Without enough insulin, excess blood sugar stays in the bloodstream, potentially causing severe health problems such as vision loss, kidney disease, and heart disease.
There are three main types of diabetes, each developing in different ways.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before. This can potentially cause health problems in the baby. It usually goes away after the baby is born, however, it increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in your and your child's life.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body accidentally attacking itself) which stops your body from making insulin. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults and often develops quickly.
There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes; if you are diagnosed, you will need to take insulin daily to survive. The best way to predict whether you will develop type 1 diabetes is if you have a family history of the chronic condition.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes makes it so your body doesn't use insulin correctly and cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels. It is the most common form of diabetes and typically develops over the course of many years, and is diagnosed in adults.
Symptoms might not be obvious, so it's essential to get tested if you are at risk. People at risk are typically overweight, physically active less than three times a week, and above the age of 45.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with healthier life choices, including:
- Weight Loss
- Eating Healthy
- Being Active
Wellness Programs Provided by Mobile Medical
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in America. After it has been diagnosed, there is no changing it. Help keep your employees healthy and less at risk for diabetes by providing them with wellness initiatives and events.
Exercise Incentive Programs
Keeping a healthy lifestyle is the first defense against type 2 diabetes. Incentivizing people to work out can be the first step to an improved lifestyle. Spreading awareness of how prevalent type 2 diabetes is makes the incentive to work out even more relevant.
Healthier Food Choices
Making unhealthy food choices when eating can increase the odds of type 2 diabetes. Understanding what to eat and when to eat it will decrease your employees' odds of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, obtaining knowledge of healthier food options will improve their overall health.
Educating in Weight/Body Mass Index
Some employees might not realize how at risk they are for type 2 diabetes. Bringing awareness about proper weight management and when you should be getting screened is essential to a healthy lifestyle.
Yearly Wellness Events
You can hold many events for your employees that will also help with their understanding of type 2 diabetes.
Wellness fairs with biometric screenings include weight management information and blood pressure checks. Heart disease can go hand-in-hand with diabetes, so it is vital to keep an eye out for each issue.
Having nutritionists/dietitians present to your employees can also help bring awareness to the seriousness of diabetes. Having an expert explain how eating healthier will improve your life can significantly impact your employees' way of living.
All employees react positively to meals provided by their company. So provide them with healthy lunches so they realize that eating healthy can taste just as good as eating poorly.
One last thing you can provide is on-site blood glucose screenings. These screenings have your employees drink a liquid that contains glucose. After an hour, their blood is drawn, and their blood sugar levels are checked. Seeing diabetes risk represented as a hard number can be just the push employees need to make life changes.
Enhance Your Employees' Health Today
With diabetes being such an issue in the working world, get ahead of it and help bring awareness to the severity of diabetes. Your employees will be more productive if they make healthier life choices, which will also help prevent diabetes in their lives. Make the leap towards a more beneficial working force and partner with Mobile Medical today.
