Diabetes disease management.   Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems facing our country with prevalence increasing at epidemic proportions. According to the American Diabetes Association, 18.2 million people in the United States have diabetes. Every year, another 1.3 million aged 20 and older – people who make up the American workforce – are diagnosed with the disease.

Often, people with diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) do not realize the seriousness of their condition until overt and costly complications present themselves, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, gangrene, amputation or blindness.

For employers, the costs related to diabetes are staggering. Medical and disability costs associated with diabetes complications for a single employee can amount to more than $15,050 annually. Multiply this by the number of employees with diabetes (or undiagnosed diabetes) in your organization, which can be as much as 10% of the total workforce. The impact on the bottom line is clear and compelling. Beyond the direct healthcare costs, absenteeism, lost productivity and increased employee turnover bear even greater organizational consequences.