Attendee Toolkit

The Business Case for Employer Action

Diabetes and prediabetes are significant health concerns that affect millions of Americans and their impact on the workplace is profound. Employers are uniquely positioned to play a crucial role in managing these conditions and supporting the overall wellbeing of their employees. The economic burden of diagnosed diabetes is vast, with a total estimated annual cost in the U.S. reaching $412.9 billion. For employers, this translates to rising health care expenses and lost productivity.

Investing in diabetes prevention and management offers significant cost-saving opportunities for employers. Given that employees with diabetes incur health care costs that are 2.6 times higher than those without, these programs can reduce overall expenses. A study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health revealed an average cost saving of $129 per participant after three years. Given that diabetes can cost approximately $13,700 annually per person, with about $7,900 attributable directly to the disease, the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) offers a significant opportunity to reduce these costs. By offering diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services and the National DPP, employers can mitigate these expenses while improving workforce health.

Diabetes and prediabetes also significantly impact workplace productivity. Offering access to diabetes prevention and management programs as covered health benefits can reduce absenteeism, increase employee retention, and ultimately enhance organizational performance.

The ADA’s Commitment to Employers

The ADA provides resources to support employers in their efforts to tackle diabetes and prediabetes in the workplace. Through the State of Diabetes toolkit, employers can access educational materials, information on DSMES services and the National DPP, and partnerships to implement these initiatives. Employers are encouraged to explore these resources to foster a healthier workforce and improve employee engagement.

To reduce the incidence of diabetes, the ADA is working with the CDC to implement their National DPP—a research-based, structured lifestyle change program that is proven to help prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. Research shows that CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs can help people cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half, proving that preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes is possible through small changes overtime.  

Employers know the importance of maintaining a healthy workforce to not only reduce their staff related expenses, but also increase satisfaction and productivity. Companies across the county are learning about the National DPP’s lifestyle change program, and by providing this evidenced-based program as a covered benefit, they find:

• A decrease in the cost of providing health care to employees over time
• Improved health of at-risk employees by preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes
• Higher productivity as a result of employees engaging in preventative care practices
• Increased employee retention

In addition to these benefits, the CDC notes that certain underlying medical conditions like type 2 diabetes increase a person’s risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Reducing the prevalence of type 2 diabetes reduces the risk of adverse complications and death from COVID-19, as well as seasonal influenza.

Visit the Diabetes Prevention Alliance