What would happen if type 2 diabetes could almost be eliminated? This is an experiment through; It is becoming more and more a reality. A recent study found that the Tirzepatido reduced the risk of developing diabetes in 94% in adults with obesity and prediabetes. That is not just a treatment, it is prevention at a level that we had never seen before.
GLP-1 medications are transforming the way we think about the management of chronic diseases and, more importantly, in prevention. These are not only “weight loss medications”, and I would say that calling them such underestimate the real impact of LPG-1. Wave research has found that they are effective in the prevention or treatment of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, kidney disease, liver disease, sleep apnea and more.
So what does this mean for employers? It means a complete review or how we see the prevention and management of the chronic condition. These medications (with the correct approach) can reduce the cost of chronic disease before it intensifies to improve employees’ well -being and reduce medical care costs. We know that they have a powerful impact on chronic diseases, but at this time they are very exempt. At some point in the future, savings will far exceed the costs of these mediations. The question is: What do we do until then and how can we prepare for this new reality?
The expansion impact of LPG-1 under chronic conditions
The increase in LPG-1 has been meteoric, and is far from finishing. Recently, FDA approved LPG-1 as a treatment for cardiovascular disease, and additional indications are added in the future. Research has found GLP-1 impact many different chronic conditions.
- Diabetes and Metabolic Health: LPG-1 have been a treatment for type 2 diabetes for years, but recent research has shown that IRPzepatida reduces the development of the risk of type 2 diabetes by 94%, revolutionizing prediabetes and diabetes attention.
- Cardiovascular health: LPG-1 reduce heart attack and the risk of stroke by 20%, which helps address one of the main causes of death and disability in the United States.
- Liver disease: Patients who use LPG-1 reduce their risk of developing liver disease in half, reducing cirrhosis hood and liver cancer.
- Nephropathy: LPG-1 reduce the risk of higher renal disease events by 24%, a disease that affects almost 15% of the adult population of the United States.
- Sleep apnea: Tirzepatide reduces sleep apnea events of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (AOS) up to two thirds (66%). Osa is the most common sleep -related respiratory disorder, which affects up to 50% or men and 25% of women in the United States. Many patients find that the current standard treatment of a CPAP machine is really cumbersome, so this opens the alternative treatment option.
- Brain health: It has been found that GLP-1 reduce the risk of addiction, seizures and neurocognitive disorders that include Alzheimer’s and dementia.
With chronic conditions that represent 90% of the US medical care expenses. Uu., Employers list chronic disease as one of their main medical care costs. Investing in the prevention of chronic diseases can have a direct impact on costs such as better health results or reduced high -cost claims, or an indirect impact such as employee participation and productivity in the workplace. With the expansion indications of LPG-1, more and more employers will bend them in their arsenal for the prevention of chronic conditions.
The key key: how the stigma exacerbates the cost of chronic conditions
A recent Harvard National Survey found that three quarters (76%) or US employees with a chronic condition such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or asthma necessary to handle their hours of chronic duration of duration. However, stigma behind having a chronic condition has a powerful impact, since most employees (60%) with a chronic condition do not report their employer. In addition, 49% of employees feel unable to take the necessary breaks at work, and 36% have delayed medical care to avoid interrupting their work.
In general, this presents a difficult challenge for employers. Its chronic prevention and condition management strategy must address the clinical results and Company culture. Addressing the stigma of chronic diseases allows employees to access the care they need, in a useless way, reducing medical care costs and improving employee participation.
The warning: why are the alone measurements are not enough
LPG-1 have been called a “change of play” for obesity and chronic conditions, and are definitely one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox. But they are not a final solution. Without proper support, they not only do not reach their potential, but can be counterproductive, establishing people for advertising events.
At this time, weight loss conversation has been greatly simplified. Obesity is not a number on the scale: it is extremely complex, with multiple factors and nuances around the cause and care. While medications help, long -term success depends on addressing the complete image: metabolic health, behavior change, nutrition, stress management and more.
Without proper support, employers face:
- A band help approach that does not address the root cause – Addressing behavior is essential for sustainable clinical results and improvements in quality of life that can lead to greater profits in employee participation and productivity.
- High interruption rates -Ssearch has found that more than 30% of people prevent the use of LPG-1 after a month, and 58% discontinates before losing a clinically significant amount of weight.
- A short -term solution, with long -term costs – Inappropriate support runs the risk of an increase in employees or employees who perform and turn off these medications, endanger future health results and lead to higher medical care costs.
LPG-1 are not destined to be an independent solution: they are only a piece of puzzle. As the FDA establishes, the weight loss measurements should be used deputies for the diet and the advice of physical activity, and we would add a good behavior skills program. A more comprehensive approach to the obesity and attention of the chronic condition integrates multiple strategies, which include nutritional advice, lifestyle support and attention of obesity experts. The programs that focus on the entire human being (and not on the scale) will have the greatest health costs that improve the impact in the long term and the life of employees.
Looking to the future: the future of chronic conditions management
The good news for the management of chronic conditions is that the supply and demand of LPG-1 do not slow down. Even without employer’s coverage, these measurements are still easily accessible. The bad news is that, although there is no shortage of prescribers, there is a shortage of support and care of LPG-1.
The true opportunity lies in the sustainable support of LPG-1 beyond the recipe. Reacting and vision organizations are building a strategy that addresses their short and long term needs with the following:
- Prevention as a priority – Addressing obesity redresses the need for high -cost interventions in the future.
- Comprehensive solutions – The integration of LPG-1 with a proven behavior change program helps guarantee long-term success.
- Personalized care and directed by experts – Employees need more than a recipe; They need support to help them navigate the treatment and loss of weight successfully.
- Address stigma or chronic conditions -The employers who encourage a culture of support and flexibility: where employees feel safe, managing their health, they will see a better commitment, improved well -being and reduced long -term claims.
LPG-1 are redefining the management of chronic diseases, but medications alone are not enough. The true “change of play” is a comprehensive strategy, one that allows employees to improve their health and helps organizations reduce long -term costs.
Photo: Alexandraflorian, Getty Images
Dr. Tim Church MD, MPH, PHD, and medical director of Wondond Health is one of the clinical leaders of clinical thought of the country in research and obesity research. As the author of approximately 300 published clinical articles, Dr. Church has received many awards for his preventive health research. In Wondond Health, Dr. Church leads the development of the program curriculum, inspired by his medical experience. Specialized in company to company strategies, Dr. Church is an employer’s defender and has a proven history of empowering organizations through disease prevention to reduce medical care costs and inspire employees to be their best being. Born in the benefit space 17 years ago, Wondond Health works with more than 2,000 employers and more than 140 health members and plans, to provide weight care and obesity of broad spectrum for more than 14 million eligible lives.
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