Diabetes education is a workplace health opportunity
More than 40 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. For employers, its impact can extend beyond medical and pharmacy claims to missed work, reduced productivity, and disability costs. The American Diabetes Association estimated the nationwide cost of diagnosed diabetes at $412.9 billion in 2022, including medical expenses and lost productivity.
CVHS’ Center for Diabetes and Nutrition can serve as an extension of your organization’s employee health and wellness resources, providing employees with specialized education, individualized support, and ongoing diabetes management.
What is comprehensive diabetes self-management education?
Managing diabetes requires more than receiving a diagnosis and a list of recommendations. Employees need practical skills and confidence to make informed decisions every day.
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Our Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Program, recognized by the American Diabetes Association, provides individual and group learning opportunities, as well as telehealth for employees that prefer to connect virtually. Our comprehensive curriculum addresses the essential components of diabetes management, including:
- Understanding diabetes and how it affects the body
- Blood glucose monitoring and interpretation
- Medication and insulin management
- Nutrition and meal planning
- Physical activity
- Recognizing and responding to high and low blood glucose
- Problem-solving and healthy coping strategies
- Reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications
- Developing sustainable lifestyle and self-management goals
- Building confidence in day-to-day diabetes management
Group programs can provide employees with an interactive learning environment while individual sessions allow for education tailored to an employee’s specific needs, lifestyle, treatment plan, and goals.
In addition to the comprehensive program, we can also provide:
- Individualized nutrition services
- Goal setting and accountability
- Continuous glucose monitor education and support
- Insulin pump evaluations and training
- Ongoing diabetes technology management
An ADA-recognized Diabetes and Nutrition Center can provide the specialized education and individualized support that employees need to take a more active role in managing their health.
Interested in connecting your workforce with CVHS? Contact the Center for Diabetes and Nutrition at (828) 326-2852 to ask about available programs, eligibility, referrals, and education options for your employees.
Get ahead of flu season: Clean hands, safer workplaces
As flu season approaches, employers can help employees build habits that reduce the spread of illness. Start with a simple message: get vaccinated, clean hands regularly, and stay home when sick.
Pay attention to frequently touched surfaces. Germs can linger on items employees handle throughout the day, including:
- Faucet handles, doorknobs, and light switches
- Keyboards, pens, and phones
- Desks, remote controls, and breakroom items such as sponges and refrigerator handles
Make hand hygiene practical. Encourage employees to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, then dry them. When soap and water are unavailable, they can use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Visibly dirty hands should be washed with soap and water instead. Remind employees to clean their hands before eating, after using the restroom, after coughing or sneezing, and before and after work and breaks.
Annual flu vaccination adds protection that hand hygiene alone cannot provide. It can reduce the risk of flu illness and serious complications. Making vaccination convenient—while keeping clean hands and supportive sick-leave practices part of the workplace routine—helps employees protect themselves and one another.
For more information about how Catawba Valley Health System’s Community Health Outreach department can assist you with scheduling an onsite flu vaccine clinic or education for staff about preventing illness, contact Meghan Harmon at employerhealthservices@catawbavalleymc.org.
Lift it right
Back injuries account for one in five workplace injuries, and 75% of work-related back injuries occur during a lifting task. Ergonomic lifting and safe lifting techniques are essential to keep in mind. Here are some cues from our fitness staff:
1) Stand as close to the load as possible, with feet shoulder-width apart, bending at the hips and knees until you are in a squatting position, keeping your back straight and engaging your core for the entire movement. You should squat, secure the load, and stand by straightening your legs while keeping your back straight and your core engaged the entire time.
2) When it comes to carrying loads, ensure you hold the load as close to your body as possible, do not twist your torso, and take small steps.
3) The proper way to set down a heavy load is to keep the load close to your body, squat down, engage your core, and kneel on one knee, if necessary.
If you would like more information about proper lifting techniques or if employees are interested in how to strengthen their core, contact one of our exercise physiologists at our medical fitness facility, Fitness Plus, using email: FitnessPlus@catawbavalleymc.org.
If you have an employee who has sustained a back injury, CVHS’ Occupational Health department can evaluate and determine a treatment plan to get the employee back to work quickly and safely. For more information, reach out to Debbie Lutz, director of Occupational Health.
