Health promotion in the workplace
A company who looks after the employees is a company worth working for.
A company who looks after the employees is a company that promotes health
In Ireland, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is predicted to rise by 37% in the next few years. Employees spend 5 days a week at work. Their lifestyle practices (eating, exercising, sitting) during those 5 days predict future health. Reduce your company’s burden by maintaining the health of your employees and prevent type 2 diabetes in the workplace.
Over the past 5 years the Diabetes Federation of Ireland have held health promotion in the workplace days. From the most recent results below, it is clear that these days proved worth while with significant numbers of employees presenting with high blood glucose and high blood pressure which required referral to a health professional for further investigation.
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No. of Workplaces
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No. of Employees Screened
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No. with High Blood Glucose
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No with High Blood Pressure
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No with Body Mass Index >30
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2007
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23
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687
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32 (4.65%)
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148 (21.5%) |
54 (7.8%)
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2008
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42
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1492
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59 (3.95%)
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142 (9.51%) |
298 (20%)
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HEALTH PROMOTION IN THE WORKPLACE
The Diabetes Federation of Ireland set up the Health Promotion in the Workplace Initiative to provide early detection of and reduce future risk of Type 2 Diabetes through risk assessment, lifestyle counselling and opportunistic screening to employees.
WHY?
In Ireland, an estimated 200,000 people have Type 2 Diabetes, of these approximately 50,000 have undiagnosed diabetes.
Your employee could be one of these people.
A further 100,000 have pre-diabetes (a condition where the blood sugar is high but not enough to diagnose diabetes) of which 50% will develop cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes).
Your employee could be one of these people
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious disease and if untreated can cause heart disease, damage to the eyes, kidneys, circulation and nervous system
WHY IS IT NECESSARY?
Healthy nutritional balance, exercise and weight loss can prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Early detection will improve diabetes control and help reduce the risk of developing damaging complications in those diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
The idea is;
1) to increase awareness about Diabetes.
2) to help identify a future risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and address this risk
3) to give advice on what can be done to change to a healthy lifestyle to help prevent developing Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancers
THE BENEFITS OF HEALTH PROMOTION IN THE WORKPLACE
Companies and society in general depend on well trained highly qualified and motivated employees – but they also need to be healthy to do the job.
Health Promotion in the Workplace looks at improving the health and well-being of people at work
Benefits for companies;
1. Healthy and better motivated. employees results in a reduction in sickness-related costs, higher quality of products and services, more likely to improve on innovation and therefore more competitive..
2. Companies incur lower costs for supplementary wages for sick employees
3. Improved public image of a company and makes it become more attractive as an employer
Benefits for the employees:
1. Improvement in their health and well-being and attitude to work.
2. Reduction in stress.
3. Improved work longevity.
WHAT DOES THE SCREENING INVOLVE?
•Presentation: on Diabetes (and other lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease) and how to adapt lifestyle change and stay healthy. (About 40 minutes, including questions and answers).
• Risk Assessment: Questionnaire to highlight individual risk in developing Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. Including lifestyle trends and family history. (Takes approximately one minute to complete).
• Screening: Measurement of blood glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index. The results of blood tests and measurements are available on the spot.
• Individual Consultation: Brief discussion of results, nutritional advice and lifestyle counselling. (approximately 5-10 minutes per individual. This will vary between individuals)
• Referral letter to GP: Provided if deemed necessary.
• Literature: Available for everyone.
• Health Assessment Summary: A full outline of all the areas covered and the results of the questionnaire and tests. Specific issues, which require further monitoring, are highlighted. Each person will be given the Health Assessment Summary for his or her own benefit.
FEEDBACK – REPORT
A report is sent back to the company of the results of the programme. As this is confidential no individual is identified in the report.
WANT TO ORGANISE A DIABETES AND LIFESTYLE SCREENING DAY?
Call the Federation on LoCall 1850 909 909 or email info@diabetes.ie to organise a screening day to suit your company/organisation.
APP/KOL/AC 14/01/2008 Last updated: May 2008
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