Employee Health and Wellness Programs: Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, formerly referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is no longer exclusively found in adults. Largely due to poor dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle, an increasing number of cases are being reported in young children and adolescents. Being overweight / obese, particularly the accumulation of fat around a person's waist, is the central risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes raise the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, blindness and circulatory disorders which often result in amputations.

Important Diabetes Information includes:

• In the U.S., 20.8 million Americans or 7% of the population with diabetes. Over one million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed annually in people over age 20. (CDC)
• Diabetes is among the leading causes of death listed on United States death certificates. Overall, the risk for death among people who have diabetes is about double that of people without diabetes of similar age. (CDC)

The CDC notes many health complications that are associated with diabetes in the U.S.:

• Heart disease and stroke - Heart disease and stroke are responsible for about 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 - 4 times higher than those without diabetes.
• The risk of stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
• High blood pressure - About 73% of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or use prescription medications to treat hypertension.
• Blindness - Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults aged 20 - 74 years.
• Kidney disease - Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, being responsible for 40% of newly diagnosed cases.
• Nervous system disease- 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild / severe nervous system damage.
• Amputations - More than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations happen in people with diabetes.
• Dental disease - Periodontal (gum) disease is found most often in people with diabetes. Among young adults, those with diabetes have about double the risk of those without diabetes.
• Complications of pregnancy - Poorly controlled diabetes prior to conception and during the 1st trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and even spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies
• Other complications - Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life-threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar (nonketotic) coma.