From orlandosentinel.com:
A first-of-its-kind diabetes study launches next month at Walt Disney World, involving as many as 1,000 Disney employees who have diabetes or are at high risk of becoming diabetic.
The company — thought to be the nations largest single-site employer — is announcing the University of Florida-conducted study to employees today through its internal Web site, employee newsletter and team leaders.
Open only to insured employees and strictly voluntary, the yearlong study will invite those currently being treated for diabetes to participate.
It will also look at a smaller group of those at risk of developing diabetes, who will be identified using a brief, standardized risk test developed by the American Diabetes Association. A high-enough score will lead to a more extensive, free screening conducted by University of Florida researchers sometime during the first two weeks of December.
“Well do up to 2,500 screenings,” said Becky Cherney, president of the Florida Health Care Coalition, which represents many of the regions largest employers that offer their workers health insurance. The coalition is partnering with the University of Florida on the study.
Cherney views the participation of those at risk of developing diabetes to be at least as critical as those with the chronic disease, since diabetes, while incurable, can be prevented. With 60,000 employees, Disney likely has about 4,000 diabetics in its work force, Cherney said, and many more than that at risk of becoming diabetic.
