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It is estimated that 8%-10% of the US population (24 million to 30 million individuals) suffers from diabetes. This includes both diagnosed cases as well as those individuals who may have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed.

Why should this be a concern to employers? Diabetes costs $116 billion annually in direct medical costs and is estimated to cost another $58 billion annually in indirect costs (loss of work, disability, loss of life). As an employer, you can make sure that your health insurer provides programs to help your employees manage their disease. This is something that won’t cost you anything. After all, it is in the insurance company’s best interest to make sure your employees maintain their health, i.e., less complications means lower number of claims paid. It also means that your experience rating as it relates to your employees becomes more favorable resulting in lower premiums.

Another reason why you should be aware of diabetes is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Diabetes may be considered a disability under the law.

Unfortunately, I learned about the ADA the hard way. My older son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2002 when he was 6 years old and certain accommodations had to be made in school. Approximately 10% of the individuals with diabetes have this more serious form of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes)
This form of the disease can occur at any age, but most commonly is diagnosed from infancy to the 30s.  In this type of diabetes, a person's pancreas produces little or no insulin. It is an autoimmune disease and one does not “outgrow it” as they get older.  People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin several times every day for the rest of their lives. Others such as my son wear an insulin pump that delivers insulin via a cannula inserted under the skin (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset)
Type 2 diabetes typically develops after age 40, but can appear earlier, and has more recently begun to appear with more frequency in children.  In this form of diabetes the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body does not produce enough or is not able to use it effectively.  Type 2 is a metabolic disorder and in many cases can be managed with weight loss and exercise.

Gestational Diabetes
About 2 to 5 percent of pregnant women develop high blood sugar during pregnancy. Although this type of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby, women who have had gestational diabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Warning Signs for Type 1 Diabetes

Knowing the warning signs for type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) could save a life as these may occur suddenly:

If you or someone you know exhibits one or more of these symptoms, call a doctor immediately. More often than not, the disease goes undetected until the individual goes into what is known as diabetic ketoacidosis (“DKA”). This can be a life threatening event and the individual must be taken to the hospital where intravenous fluids and electrolytes must be given while the diagnosis is being made.

Individuals with diabetes successfully perform all types of jobs from heading major corporations to protecting public safety to being a professional athlete (Jake Cutler, the starting QB for the Chicago Bears was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2008). Yet, many employers still automatically exclude them from certain positions based on myths, fears, or stereotypes. For example, some employers wrongly assume that anyone with diabetes will be unable to perform a particular job (e.g., one that requires driving) or will need to use a lot of sick leave. The reality is that, because many individuals with diabetes work with few or no restrictions, their employers do not know that they have diabetes. Some employees, however, tell their employers that they have diabetes because they need a "reasonable accommodation" a change or adjustment in the workplace to better manage and control their condition. Most of the accommodations requested by employees with diabetes such as regular work schedules, meal breaks, a place to test their blood sugar levels, or a rest area do not cost employers anything to provide.

If you need additional information or questions, do not hesitate to contact me at ebaloga@b2bcfo.com or visit www.JDRF.org.