Doing Today’s Work Today for a Healthier Workforce Tomorrow

The often-overlooked burden of presenteeism—such as employees working while managing chronic constipation or early cognitive decline—can stem from microvascular damage caused by elevated blood sugars, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. This hidden cost highlights the importance of being member-obsessed and supporting adherence to PROACTIVE CARE plans, even when the return isn’t easily quantifiable. Reducing barriers and enabling providers and patients to “do today’s work today” can yield significant savings down the road. For instance, over 75% of people with diabetes experience gastrointestinal motility issues, with delays linked to microvascular complications like neuropathy and retinopathy (Garg et al., 2025). Additionally, individuals with metabolic syndrome face a 24% higher risk of developing young-onset dementia, underscoring the urgent need for early lifestyle interventions to mitigate long-term cognitive and vascular decline (Lee et al., 2025).

Garg, S., Valencia, S., Syed, H. et al. (2025). Differences in Gastrointestinal Motility in Adults with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Using Wireless Motility Capsule. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-025-08954-8

Lee, J.-Y., Han, K., Kim, J., Lim, J.-S., Cheon, D. Y., & Lee, M. (2025). Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Young-Onset Dementia: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. Neurology, 104(10). https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213599