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Diabetes management is not only a major personal issue, of course, but also a significant workplace issue. Many employers seek programs to help employees. But a new report from the Northeast Business Group on Health suggests that some employers are frustrated that their diabetes management programs may be ineffective.

The Group said: “Most employers have diabetes prevention or management programs in place but point to lack of employee engagement as a key factor in the ineffectiveness of such programs, says a new report from Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH). Traditional disease management techniques – primarily telephone outreach and information distribution – are not working to stem the diabetes epidemic, according to the report, based on a NEBGH Solutions Center research project that included an employer survey and roundtable discussion with 26 executives from employers, health plans, providers, consulting organizations and pharmaceutical firms.”

The Group's project was “the first phase of an in-depth exploration of diabetes and the workplace” and “was designed to confirm the importance of diabetes as a priority for employers, determine what types of diabetes programs employers currently have in place, and highlight employers’ views about what might be needed for more effective workplace programs.”

One challenge is employee engagement.

Business and Legal Resources reported that “employers told NEBGH that denial, fear, and lack of trust play a significant role in lack of workforce engagement. They were also interested in the role digital platforms could play in increasing engagement.”

“The NEBGH report says digital tools could also play a role in better care by creating valuable exchanges of information between patients and providers that could help with medication adherence, trigger necessary interventions, but perhaps most importantly provide daily support in assisting patients with managing the cascade of daily lifestyle choices they face.”

Said Laurel Pickering, MPH, President and CEO of NEBGH: “Employers are aware of the toll diabetes takes on their employees, as well as the impact to their organizations in terms of direct healthcare costs and indirect costs associated with diabetes-related absenteeism, presenteeism, disability and early retirement. But we need to look beyond what is currently in place in most organizations and actively pursue innovative new models of care delivery, new ways of engaging employees and new business models that reward high value care, if we are serious about making a dent in this American epidemic.”