Type 1.5 diabetes: A challenge for SMEs and their employees

4 minutes
Une femme diabétique se pique le doigt avec un appareil

Do you know about type 1.5 diabetes? This disease, which is not well known and difficult to diagnose, is also called LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults).

Since it is a chronic, autoimmune disease, it can affect the health of employees who have it, and also your business.

Let’s look at how you can help those dealing with this type of diabetes.

A short introduction to type 1.5 diabetes

LADA is diagnosed in adults of normal weight from age 30 to 50.

Type 1.5 diabetes shares characteristics with type 2 diabetes, showing symptoms such as:

  • Intense thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Rapid, noticeable weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Severe fatigue
  • Dry, irritated skin

Diagnosis is not automatic

Healthcare professionals often consider several hypotheses before arriving at a diagnosis of LADA because it is often confused with type 1 or 2 diabetes.

However, there are nuances that help identify it.

Type 1.5 diabetes develops more slowly than type 1. It develops over many months while type 1 manifests in a matter of weeks, especially among children and adolescents.

It’s different from type 2 in that the latter doesn’t require insulin.

The consequences of an erroneous or late diagnosis can be serious. Obviously, the major problem is inappropriate treatment. For example, if there is a delay in prescribing insulin injections, there is increased risk of organ damage.

Another aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked is the mental toll of managing type 1.5 diabetes. It’s a full-time job!

When LADA intrudes in your company

Lea, age 36, was juggling her career, her family’s needs and fluctuating blood sugar. She had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and followed her treatment plan scrupulously: balanced diet, medication, physical activity.

But it wasn’t working. Her blood sugar levels inexplicably see-sawed too high, then too low, in spite of all her efforts.

With all the last-minute medical appointments, Lea was at the end of her rope, totally drained. All the worry about her health made it difficult to manage stress, which impacted her family life and her performance at work.

After months of uncertainly and frustration, her doctor suggested further testing. The results revealed that Lea had LADA, not type 2 diabetes.

Although the diagnosis was distressing, it was also a revelation. She finally understood why her treatment wasn’t producing results.

This is the type of situation you may have to manage if one of your employees receives a diagnosis of type 1.5 diabetes.

When one of your staff is struggling with their health, your business is impacted.

If the physical and mental health of your teams is in decline, you will feel it on your bottom line and it will cause issues of all sorts:

  • Employees with diabetes are absent from work two to ten more days per year than their non-diabetic co-workers.
  • People with diabetes spend $19,736 per year on health care, of which $12,022 is due to their disease. Their average medical expenses are 2.6 times higher than those of non-diabetic persons.
  • Employees with health problems are three times less productive than their healthy co-workers.
  • In Canada, chronic illness accounts for a loss of productivity of $122B.
  • The cost related to the departure of an employee represents 30% of their annual income. In the case of more experienced employees, this may even be as high as 200% of their annual salary.

In addition, the cost of your group insurance plan skyrockets. On the one hand, your small business wants to offer competitive benefits. But the increasing costs of the plan can affect your bottom line. Finding the right balance is not easy.

What can you do about it?

You can’t just stand by when members of your team are coping with diabetes! You have an important role to play.

Your group insurance plan

First, look at how your group insurance plan can support these employees. Upgrades to the plan may include:

  • The addition of endocrinology services
  • Coverage for specific medical supplies
  • Access to nutrition and mental health counselling
  • Telemedecine

Introduce a workplace health and wellness program based on best practices that includes:

  • An employee assistance program (EAP) with counselling on adopting healthy lifestyle habits
  • A chronic illness support program that includes diabetes
  • Educational workshops on healthy lifestyle habits (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, psychological wellness etc.)

An inclusive, flexible workplace environment

Organize diabetes awareness sessions for your teams. Ask your insurer for help. It can call on healthcare professionals, such as a dietitian or a nurse specialized in diabetes who can explain the details of this disease, its impact on daily life and management strategies.

These meetings will enable your employees to better understand the effects of this disease on their health. Encourage open discussion for asking questions and breaking down prejudices.

This awareness initiative contributes to building an environment where mutual support and empathy reign. By promoting an open, supportive environment, you strengthen the relationships among team members and create an inclusive and caring workplace environment.

Concrete actions

Raising the awareness of your employees about preventing or managing diabetes  in your business is essential for supporting them and optimizing your resources. Acting now means investing in a stronger, more united team.