According to the CDC, studies have shown that a proper diet and moderate exercise can help to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, and even prevent it altogether, in some cases. A new program created by the CDC, called The Diabetes Prevention Program, shows that even a weight loss of 5 to 7 percent can help to prevent diabetes. This can easily be accomplished by promoting healthy eating and 30 to 40 minutes of moderate exercise per day. So what can you do at your organization as a part of your wellness program to help your employees? A few simple steps can get everyone well on their way to optimal overall health.
1) Encourage healthy eating. While it is impossible to control what employees eat, offering simple tips throughout the office, or even providing healthy snacks in the break room, is a great way to entice your employees to eat healthier. Whether you include tidbits of information regarding healthy eating in your newsletters, in sporadic company emails, or tacked up on bulletin boards throughout the office, the small hints can have a large impact.
2) Create exercise groups at work. Encourage your employees to use some of their lunch hour to take a brisk walk. Studies show that 30 minutes of brisk walking, five times a week, can have a drastic impact on a person’s health. Helping employees create walking groups is a great way for them to encourage one another to keep going.
3) Offer exercise program incentives. If you have a facility onsite where your employees can work out over their lunch break, or right before/after work, they are more likely to take advantage of it. If this is not possible, working out a group discount with a local gym is another great way to make fitness more convenient for your employees.
Every step that is taken is a step towards fighting the onset of diabetes. Because diabetes can have a dramatic effect on an employee’s health, it is in your best interest to help your employees retain their health and wellness. There is power in numbers; get your employees geared up and ready to be the healthiest that they can be, minimizing their risk for diabetes and all of its complications.
