Houston held Texas’ State of Diabetes, panel on weaving accommodations for diabetics into workplaces – Houston Public Media
The American Diabetes Association recently held its annual State of Diabetes event in Houston, where experts and local business leaders gathered to discuss how employers can make workplaces more accommodating to people with diabetes.
To recognize Diabetes Awareness Month, the national organization is hosting similar events across the country. This year's event for Texas was held at the Junior League of Houston.
Reva Verma, founder and CEO of local marketing firm Reneka Digital, was one of the event's panelists.
"When structured thoughtfully, workplace wellness programs can significantly enhance the well-being of employees and improve productivity, which ends up creating a win-win for both employer and employee," Verma said.
Improving accommodations for diabetics in workspaces was the theme of the event, she said.
"Early intervention and consistent management are critical to reducing the burden of these chronic diseases and improving quality of life over time," Verma said, adding that employers need to work with their staff to make sure the appropriate health resources are available to them.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the state, in which more than 2.5 million Texans are diabetic, or . Rates of diabetes get worse when focusing on Harris County, where an estimated 13% of adults are diagnosed.
Diabetes is also costing Texans billions of dollars. The price of insulin has tripled in the last two decades, and according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texans together spent $26 billion on treating diabetes . Of that total, $18.9 billion came from direct medical costs.
However, with collaboration between employers and staff, Verma said diabetes can be less of a health concern and financial burden for people. One such example is Flexible Spending Accounts [FSAs].
"Employers can adopt creative solutions to minimize the financial strain, which maintains high-quality care for employees while reducing costs," she said. "So, for example, incorporating things like FSAs or even wellness type things so that employees can afford their out-of-pocket costs that are associated with their diabetes management is extremely helpful."
Another critical part, that is often overlooked by both diabetics and their employers, is mental health resources, Verma said.
"Diabetes is a 24/7, 365-day job; people with diabetes never get a break," she said. "They're constantly worried about injections, medications, affording medication, physical activity, nutrition, the list goes on and on. So people with diabetes and other chronic conditions are expected to experience what we call diabetes burnout."
