Research shows that employee wellness programs and wellness challenges are effective in managing - and even reversing - Type 2 Diabetes. A common chronic condition, Diabetes results in severe, long-term complications to employee health like stroke, heart attack, and damage to the eye, kidney, and nerves. The cost of caring for people with diabetes now accounts for roughly 1 out of every 3 dollars.
A version of this article was published in Corporate Wellness Magazine.
Can Employee Wellness Programs Help Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
The short answer is "yes."
Research presented at HEROForum18 by Dr. Jonathan Little, Associate Professor, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia showed significant success in achieving partial and, at times, a complete remission of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).
The most intriguing part of this study to us was the opportunity for employers to play an important role in lowering their risks of this all-too-common, and very debilitating disease. Diabetes can result in severe, long-term complications such as stroke, heart attack, as well as damage to the eye, kidney and nerves. As a result, the cost of caring for people with diabetes now accounts for roughly 1 out of every 3 dollars spent in healthcare.
The key to the success of Dr. Little's program was a low carbohydrate, high fat (LCHF) diet. The high fat component raised a few eyebrows, but in concert with the low carb diet, type 2 Diabetes and pre-Diabetes patients showed no signs of insulin resistance or clogged arteries.
In fact, if Type 2 Diabetes is in remission, almost all cardiovascular disease risk factors improve. And not surprisingly, when a 15 minute post-meal walk is made a part of the regimen, blood vessel function is improved significantly.
When Type 2 Diabetes is in remission, almost all cardiovascular disease risk factors improve.
Type 2 Diabetes can be seen simply as "carbohydrate intolerance." When you remove the carbohydrates, you eliminate high blood sugar levels. If that doesn't sound appetizing, consider that breakfast could be eggs and avocado. Lunch? A salad with nuts, beef and olive oil dressing and dinner could include cheese, chicken, vegetables and olive oil in a tasty tossed salad.
Dr. Little is working with community pharmacists as partners in an ongoing clinical trial. Pharmacists, who are well-positioned in the community and well-trained in medication management, represent an innovative solution for delivering safe, low-carbohydrate therapeutic nutrition.
Using such an approach, employees on glucose-lowering diabetes medications would be counseled on gradually adjusting, and ultimately eliminating their insulin and diabetes medication doses. A wellness software platform could allow employees to track results and then provide specific diet instructions on a weekly basis to improve employee self-management, buy-in and ultimate success of the program.
Studies have shown that after one year on a Low Carbohydrate, High Fat diet, 60% of patients reversed their Type 2 Diabetes. 94% reduced or eliminated insulin.
The long-term benefits are hard to ignore. Controlled studies have shown that after one year on a Low Carbohydrate, High Fat diet, 60% of patients reversed their Type 2 Diabetes. 94% reduced or eliminated insulin. Additionally, the average blood glucose improvement fell below the diabetic threshold and the average weight loss at one year was 30 lbs. These facts alone prompted CoreHealth to get the word out by sponsoring Dr. Little to speak at the HERO Forum held in Florida in 2018.
A "T2D" workplace program in partnership with a community pharmacist and a wellness software platform to manage the program in real-time could show significant improvements in Type 2 Diabetes and pre-diabetes patients in a relatively short period of time, and demonstrate a sincere corporate commitment to wellness in the workplace.
About CoreHealth Technologies
CoreHealth by Carebook is a total well-being company trusted by global companies to power their health and wellness programs. Our wellness portals help maximize health, engagement, and productivity for over 3.5 million employees worldwide. We believe people are the driving force of organizations and supporting them to make behavior changes to improve employee health is in everyone’s best interest. With the most flexibility, customizations, and integrations of any software in its class, CoreHealth’s all-in-one wellness platform helps achieve great wellness outcomes.
From simple to sophisticated, it's up to you. For more information, visit the CoreHealth website.
