A quick wellness check gave Jonathan keys to a longer life
CareATC’s Personal Health Assessment gave Jonathan Gibbons news he wasn’t expecting and the power to do something about it. Read Jonathan’s story this World Diabetes Day and decide if you need a test.
“Bad news isn’t fun, but we still need to hear it,” says Jonathan Gibbons, senior materials representative at GE Appliances. “You can’t fix a problem until you know about it.”
Years since Jonathan had been to the doctor, he popped in for a quick wellness check offered onsite at Appliance Park.
“My co-workers had been talking about a Personal Health Assessment offered by CareATC,” says Jonathan. “So, I decided to take a few minutes and get it done.”
The Personal Health Assessment (PHA) is a five-minute health check to pinpoint risk levels for preventable medical conditions like diabetes. Two days later, Jonathan received the results.
“I haven’t had a soda in three years,” says Jonathan. “But here I am with diabetes. I had no idea. You can’t know until you have it checked.”
That day, the doctor prescribed him medication to get control of his diabetes. CareATC also offered a dietician to help guide Jonathan toward lifestyle changes. These services are at no to low cost to GE Appliances employees.
“Diabetes was not on my radar at all,” says Jonathan who had no family history of the disease. The only way to know for sure that you have diabetes is to get tested.
Know the warnings of diabetes
See your doctor if you have any of the following warning signs of diabetes:
- extreme thirst
- frequent urination, especially at night
- unintentional weight loss
- increased hunger
- blurred vision
- numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
- fatigue
- skin that’s very itchy or dry
- wounds that don’t heal quickly
Manage your diabetes and stay healthy longer.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to take care of yourself. GE Appliances offers benefits to help at no to low cost to their employees on the health plan.
Manage your A1C blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Ask your doctor what your goals should be and stay informed about your A1C level.
Take care of your mental health.
A mental health counselor may help you find healthy ways to cope with stress.
- EAP – See a confidential, licensed counselor
Make lifestyle changes to slowly build healthy habits.
Take small steps to eat healthier, be more physically active, and get enough sleep.
- Y @ Work – For only $2.50 per week you can improved your fitness, a great way to prevent or manage diabetes. Offered at Appliance Park.
- Exercise Reimbursement Program offered to GE Appliances employees
Take your medicines on time, even if you feel healthy.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for help if you have trouble managing your medicines.
- CareATC – See a provider onsite at Appliance Park or Roper
- Virta Health – Type 1 Management and Type 2 Reversal
Work closely with your primary care provider.
They can help you manage your diabetes and refer you to other health care professionals for related health problems.
- CareATC – See a provider onsite at Appliance Park or Roper
- Virta Health – Type 1 Management and Type 2 Reversal
Diabetes By the Numbers
From 2001 to 2020, diabetes prevalence significantly increased among US adults 18 or older.
- 37.3 million people have diabetes—that’s 11.3% of the US population.
- 28.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes.
- 8.5 million people who have diabetes have not been diagnosed and do not know they have it.