In the highly stressed corporate world, health is often neglected as a result of the continuous work demands. Long office hours, irregular eating habits, and high-stress levels often contribute to the concerning increase in the prevalence of diabetes among corporate employees. This not only hampers a person’s health but also reduces work productivity. In recent times more and more pre-diabetics are facing the risk of being converted to diabetics because of the persistent sedentary lifestyle and higher stress levels. A major concern that employees may have is the worry of the risk of chronic illness. By addressing this issue, we not only create a healthier workspace but also contribute to the organisation's growth. We spoke to Dr Bhavya Vankar, Co-founder and the Director of the Patient Experience and the Business Development wing at Quantum CorpHealth to discuss the factors contributing to the rise of this phenomenon and its potential solutions.
Sedentary Lifestyle and Family History
One of the most common causes of the rise in diabetes cases in corporate employees is the sedentary behaviour of the employee. Spending hours sitting in one place with eyes glued to the screen causes weight gain and insulin resistance which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Additionally, this also increases the risk of obesity and hypertension.
Despite the growing awareness of the importance of physical activity, the demands of the corporate workspace often leave little time and energy for physical exercise. Additionally, a consistent family history of diabetes also plays a significant role in increasing the risk of diabetes among corporate sector employees.
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Can Stress Cause Diabetes?
As per Dr Vankar, “Constant pressure and responsibility management in a corporate space cause a lot of stress and it is one of the most critical factors in developing diabetes. The everlasting demand to meet deadlines and multitask often ends up taking a toll on an employee’s physical and mental health. It also drives people towards unhealthy food habits as a coping mechanism which eventually increases the risk of diabetes. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation trigger the release of cortisol and other stress hormones which can lead to increased blood sugar levels over time.”
The Link Between Diet and Diabetes Risk
In a corporate environment, convenience is often chosen before nutrition when it comes to dietary choices. Busy schedules and continuous meetings make having a nutritious diet difficult and going for something unhealthy will lead to the development of severe health issues. The availability of vending machines stocked with sugary snacks only escalates the situation making it challenging for employees to make healthy dietary choices to prevent diabetes. Furthermore, drinking too much alcohol can drop blood sugar levels, which can be particularly dangerous for diabetics as it can cause symptoms like dizziness, confusion, sweating, and even unconsciousness.
Also Read: Diabetes Toolkit: 5 Essentials To Build Your Diabetes Management Toolkit
The Impact of Diabetes on Individuals and Businesses
Talking about how employees’ wellbeing can impact the organisation, Dr Vankar shares, “An employee's life may be significantly impacted by a diabetes diagnosis, requiring significant lifestyle changes along with medical supervision. Diabetes often results in decreased productivity and reduced quality of work due to fatigue or other complications related to the disease.”
Diabetes has equally daunting repercussions on an employee's life. The treatment of the disease, the cost, and the medication can pile up to be a cause of worry.
What Should Be The Diabetes Management Plan For Corporate Employees?
Proactive measures are required to combat the growing rise of diabetes among corporate employees. Dr Vankar suggests, “Employers should initiate workplace wellness programs that focus on stress reduction, a balanced diet, and the promotion of physical activity. This initiative includes gym facilities with aerobic activities like Zumba and Pilates, organising wellness workshops, offering healthy food options in cafeterias, and implementing flexible work arrangements to accommodate exercise routines.”
Also Read: How This 53YO Man Reversed Type-2 Diabetes and Lost 15 Kilos Naturally
Conclusion
We have found that there is a rise in diabetes and high blood sugar cases among corporate employees which is affecting both individuals and organisations. To address this issue, businesses, employees, and health professionals have to work together to establish a work environment that focuses on one's health and well-being. Companies are redefining health and wellness by identifying high, medium, and low-risk groups and targeting the first two by offering Condition Management Programs (CMP) to help them control their sugars better.
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Diabetes can be managed, based on individual cases, and healthier, more energetic workplaces can be established for the future by emphasising prevention, early intervention, and supportive policies.