Assess the Burden: Assess the current burden of diabetes in the workforce through health risk assessments, biometric screenings or other employee questionnaires. Include spouses and dependents.
Address Local Needs and Barriers: Develop community partnerships to address significant barriers to accessing health care services such as transportation issues, food insecurity, distrust of the healthcare system, and lack of community resources for physical activity. (Key theme from the Alliance)
Case Management/Health Coaching: Assign a professional (health coach, case manager) to identify the employee’s needs, develop an individual care plan, and monitor the implementation and outcomes of the care plan. One-on-one setting works well with really low income, low literacy participants so that materials can be customized to them and will apply to their specific situation in daily life. Case management is strongly recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force based on strong evidence of its effectiveness in improving glycemic control.
Coordinate Care: Develop referral systems, contractual agreements and partnerships to enhance communication and coordination between employee participants and individuals involved with their care. One of the biggest challenges with providing DSME is in the context of a fragmented and confusing healthcare system. Help build relationships between employees (patients) and providers to minimize confusion. (Key theme from the Alliance)
Create a Supportive Environment: Educate supervisors, managers and co-workers about diabetes, self-care practices and how to respond appropriately to diabetes-related emergencies. Minimize discrimination.
Diabetes Screenings: Through the Affordable Care Act, preventive services such as diabetes screening may be covered with no additional costs. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 or 1-855-889-4325 to learn more.
Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME): Teach people how to manage their own diabetes. Support informed decision-making, self-care behaviors and collaboration with health care professionals to improve quality of life, health status and clinical outcomes. DSME is considered to be the cornerstone of care for achieving successful, health-related outcomes by many with diabetes.
Disease Management: An organized, proactive, multicomponent approach in a clinical setting for those with diabetes or those who are at high risk for developing diabetes. It is strongly recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force based on strong evidence of its effectiveness in improving glycemic control, provider monitoring of glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and screening for diabetic retinopathy.
Education Sessions/Lunch-n-Learns: Focus on barriers to change and overcoming barriers of physical activity, proper food selection, portion control, and social networks to facilitate achievement of intervention goals. (Diabetes Prevention Program)
Empower Employees: Take an employee (patient)-centered approach to self-management and take in account cultural preferences and personal needs of participants. Focus on participant strengths and their readiness to change. Use a wide range of topics to enhance knowledge, skills, and motivation. Be comprehensive and tailor materials as needed. Empowerment is considered an integral component of implementation. (Key theme from the Alliance)
Group Education: Educate employees in groups or promote participation in support groups. Group education has shown to be an effective method for delivering diabetes self-management education programs. Coordinate lunch-n-learns and opportunities during times when family can participate. (Community Preventive Services Task Force)
Include Family Members: Family members can be instrumental in coordinating healthcare and helping employees achieve positive, health-outcomes. They may also be motivated to change their own personal health behaviors. Involving family members has shown to be a positive approach to DSME.
Increase Access and Support: Schedule diabetes education classes and opportunities at convenient times, at multiple times and at accessible locations. Consider literacy levels, language and culture when developing and adapting education materials. Include group education/support groups and invite family members to attend individual or group sessions. Formally train for front staff that is in regular contact with participants. (Key theme from the Alliance)
Multicomponent Health Promotion Programming: Include attention to healthy eating, regular physical activity, monitoring blood glucose levels, adherence to medications, and reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such has tobacco use, high blood pressure or high lipid levels. Include diabetes education and prevention strategies in other wellness activities as components of a comprehensive wellness program.
Physical Activity: One of the most effective diabetes prevention strategies for those at high-risk or with impaired glucose tolerance. Encourage employees to move more during the workday and promote regular physical activity.
Self-Care Resources: Provide online and/or onsite resources to help employees manage/monitor their diabetes and minimize the adverse symptoms associated with common related health problems.
Supervisor Training: Educate supervisors and managers about diabetes, self-care practices and how to respond appropriately to diabetes-related emergencies. Increase awareness of medical self-care needs of employees with diabetes and include ways to accommodate time away for health visits.
Weight Management & Control: One of the most effective diabetes prevention strategies for those at high-risk or with impaired glucose tolerance. Promote healthy eating at work and home and encourage regular physical activity.
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