Panel urges employers to expand workplace wellness; ADA demos 'State of Diabetes' toolkit

A panel of clinicians and community advocates at the American Diabetes Association Hawaii event urged employers to make practical changes to support employees with or at risk for diabetes and previewed the ADA State of Diabetes digital toolkit.

Dori, the panel moderator, introduced experts including Dr. Haewon Jeong (Kaiser Permanente / Hawaii Permanente Medical Group), Dr. Alan Parsa (endocrinologist and ADA Hawaii president), Dr. Laurie Tom (endocrinologist) and Dr. Wei Lin (clinical pharmacist, Queen's Medical Center). Panelists recommended employer actions such as replacing sugary rewards with healthier options, offering flexible times for diabetes prevention programs, creating walking teams and providing modest incentives for participation.

"When someone achieves 15% weight loss, that you can put diabetes in remission," Dr. Jeong said, describing lifestyle and surgical options. Panelists stressed that education and sustained support are required alongside any medication: "A lot of times people say 'I know what to do, but it's hard to do it by myself,'" Dr. Wei Lin said.

Shasta (ADA staff) demonstrated the State of Diabetes toolkit at diabetes.org/sodtoolkit, calling it "life changing" for employers and community groups. The toolkit includes an employer cost calculator to estimate workplace diabetes costs, downloadable communication templates and a food hub with categorized, diabetes‑friendly recipes and grocery list features. Shasta also showed the diabetes risk test (about 60 seconds to complete) and highlighted resources for organizing workplace campaigns, virtual cooking demos and Step Out walks.

Panelists and audience volunteers shared low-cost examples employers have used: $10 gift‑card walking challenges, mandatory short exercise breaks, standing desks and partnerships with local farmers markets. The ADA encouraged employers to integrate prevention programs at off‑work times or virtually so employees can participate.

The toolkit and panel advice were framed as practical steps employers can take now; ADA Hawaii invited organizations to use the materials, register for local Step Out events (March 21 at Kapiolani Park) and participate in upcoming advocacy work.

What happens next: ADA said the toolkit is free and will be distributed to attendees, along with a follow‑up survey; the association invited feedback on how the materials work locally.