In this episode of Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist, hosts Brittany Hardaway and Rachael Baumgartner sit down with Dr. Janet Young, Clinical Analytics Advisor at Springbuk, to unpack a growing challenge for employers: the rising costs of diabetes care. 

‍Dr. Young shares that diabetes-related spending has surged by 38% over the past three years—far outpacing other chronic conditions. A major driver? The skyrocketing use of GLP-1 agonists, medications originally developed for diabetes but now widely used for weight loss. 

"More than 40% of members with type 2 diabetes filled a prescription for GLP-1s last year—double the rate from four years ago," she notes. 

While these medications offer powerful benefits, including improved glucose control and cardiovascular protection, their costs continue to climb, creating tough decisions for employer-sponsored health plans.

As employers strategize for the future, Dr. Young emphasizes three key priorities: tracking diabetes trends, proactively addressing prediabetes, and ensuring equitable access to care.

The conversation also explores the expanding role of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) beyond type 1 diabetes patients. These devices, which eliminate the need for fingersticks, are gaining traction among insulin-dependent type 2 diabetics and could have broader applications—potentially even helping prediabetic individuals prevent disease progression. 

Dr. Young also highlights the stark disparities in diabetes treatment based on social determinants of health (SDOH), with more vulnerable populations less likely to access newer medications and monitoring tools. 

Key Takeaways

• Diabetes costs are rising fast – Diabetes spending jumped 38% over three years, driven largely by the rising use of GLP-1 agonists.
• GLP-1 medications are in high demand – More effective than older treatments and linked to weight loss, GLP-1s are now used by over 40% of type 2 diabetics.
• CGMs are expanding beyond insulin users – Real-time glucose tracking is gaining popularity and could play a role in prediabetes prevention.
• Social determinants of health matter – Diabetes rates double in high-vulnerability populations, yet these groups have less access to newer treatments.
• Employers should focus on three things – Monitor diabetes trends, tackle prediabetes early, and reduce treatment disparities.

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Janet Young on LinkedIn
• Get the complete 2025 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources
• Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway and Rachael Baumgartner

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Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside