#Japan #Health Insurance #Diabetes Care #Persol #Kumagaya

Introduction

Persol Business Process Design, a leading company in health management services under the vision of "Let’s Work and Smile Together," has launched an innovative Blood Sugar Measurement Plan. This service is being offered to the Saisin Health Insurance Union, a healthcare provider based in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. The introduction of this plan marks a significant milestone in the company's journey to improve health outcomes and promote healthier lifestyles among its members.

Background

Since the inception of its Specific Health Guidance Service in 2008, Persol Business Process Design has provided lifestyle improvement support to nearly 90,000 individuals. This service aims to assist insurers in managing their operations and promote health management within companies. In preparation for the new 4th Edition of Specific Health Checkups and Guidance, which will include fresh outcome evaluations, the company has revamped its offerings. Starting in 2025, they will also incorporate continuous glucose monitoring systems into their health initiatives, reinforcing efforts to prevent the onset or progression of lifestyle diseases like diabetes.

With approximately 11 million people at high risk of developing diabetes in Japan, addressing this issue is becoming increasingly critical. The Saisin Health Insurance Union, having noted a significant number of members identified as having blood sugar risks, decided to adopt the Blood Sugar Measurement Plan as part of their services.

Overview of the Blood Sugar Measurement Plan

Supervised by diabetes specialist Dr. Soichi Jo, the Blood Sugar Measurement Plan utilizes the expertise of registered dietitians from Persol Business Process Design. They provide tailored consultations via individual meetings, phone calls, and emails, implementing cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to encourage lifestyle modifications. Over a three-month support period, participants will wear the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system for the first two weeks, allowing them to observe fluctuations in their blood glucose levels. This understanding of how diet and exercise impact blood glucose is intended to lay the groundwork for effective diabetes prevention.

Notably, 43.8% of participants who underwent Specific Health Guidance achieved significant milestones, namely a reduction of 2 kg in weight and a 2 cm decrease in waist circumference. This is a remarkable improvement compared to the 24.8% achievement rate of other plans offered by the company, highlighting the effectiveness of the Blood Sugar Measurement Plan.

The successful outcomes are attributed to the visibility provided by the FreeStyle Libre system, which allowed participants to track their blood glucose levels. Furthermore, consistently recording their weight fostered self-initiated adjustments in dietary and exercise habits, leading to healthier lifestyle choices.

Insights from the Saisin Health Insurance Union

According to representatives from the Saisin Health Insurance Union, they proposed the Blood Sugar Measurement Plan to individuals categorized under "Active Support" who are at risk of elevated blood sugar levels. While they anticipated that only about 30% of these individuals would opt for the program, nearly half showed keen interest. The high success rates of participant outcomes further encourage them to continue with the program in the future.

Future Prospects

As part of the Specific Health Guidance Service, Persol plans to enhance personalized support based on blood data. By fine-tuning their approach, they aim to create engaging programs that motivate participants to take charge of their health actively. Through this initiative, they hope to improve the overall implementation rate of health guidance and contribute to corporate health management.

Conclusion

In summary, Persol Business Process Design's Blood Sugar Measurement Plan represents a significant step forward in workplace health initiatives and offers a compelling model for other organizations. By leveraging technology such as continuous glucose monitors, they are not only addressing the rising tide of lifestyle-related diseases but also creating a supportive environment for individuals to thrive physically and mentally.