ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide contemporary data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged diabetic employees in Germany. METHODS: Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed at the workplace in employees of the automobile industry who identified themselves as having type 2 diabetes mellitus. The proportion of subjects reaching the target values for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 4234 employees, 91 employees with diabetes were identified (mean age, 52 years). Only 7 of 91 (8%) diabetic employees achieved all three recommended target values. Blood pressure targets were achieved by 26%, HbA1c target value by 54%, and LDL target value by 31% of employees. CONCLUSION: Only a negligible proportion of working people with diabetes achieve the recommended target values. This sobering result questions current management modalities and calls for new treatment and monitoring strategies for working people with diabetes.
