OWC Health Awareness Series: Diabetes Awareness (World Diabetes Day – November 14)

OWC Health Awareness Series: Diabetes Awareness

Each year on 14 November World Diabetes Day is a reminder that diabetes affects millions of people across all stages of life.

The 2025 World Diabetes Day theme, Diabetes Across Life Stages, highlights the need for everyone living with diabetes to have access to integrated care, supportive environments, and policies that promote health, dignity, and self-management. This year’s campaign underscores the importance of a life-course approach – recognizing that prevention, early detection, and consistent management are vital at every age.

---

---

Understanding Diabetes and its Impact

At its core, diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to produce enough insulin (or use it effectively), causing elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels which over time damage nerves and blood vessels.

The two most common types are:

• Type 1: Usually autoimmune; the pancreas produces little to no insulin.
• Type 2: Much more common (90%+ of cases); often linked to lifestyle factors (overweight/obesity, inactivity) and insulin-resistance.

Here are a few key facts:

• Globally, more than 830 million people are living with diabetes.
• Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation when poorly controlled.
• Early lifestyle factors matter: overweight, obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet are strongly linked to the rise in diabetes.
• Although often thought of as an adult-only condition, diabetes affects children and younger adults too – meaning prevention and management across life stages is vital.

💡 Did you know? The number of people worldwide living with diabetes has more than doubled since 1990, rising from around 7% of adults to approximately 14% today. At the same time, more than half of adults aged 30 and over with diabetes do not receive treatment – especially in low- and middle-income countries.

---

Why This Matters

Beyond the global statistics, diabetes represents an ongoing challenge for individuals, families, and workplaces. For employers and HR leaders, understanding the impact of diabetes is also about workforce health and productivity. While diabetes is often viewed as a personal health issue, in workplaces it has broader implications:

• Employees with undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes may experience fatigue, delayed healing, increased sick-leave, complications.
• From a risk perspective, complications drive high healthcare costs which may impact group health insurance, disability cover or benefit design.
• Supportive work-environments – healthy diet options, opportunities for physical activity, wellness education – make a real difference.

---

Know the Warning Signs

Early symptoms of diabetes can be subtle and easily missed. Recognizing them early can make a significant difference in long-term health outcomes. Common warning signs include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing wounds or frequent infections

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should schedule a check-up promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can delay or prevent complications.

---

Diabetes Prevention and Management

Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90% of all cases, is largely preventable through lifestyle changes. Steps that can significantly reduce risk include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity
• Avoiding excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Getting sufficient sleep and managing stress
• Regularly monitoring blood glucose levels if you are at risk

For those already living with diabetes, self-management and continuity of care are key. Coordinating with healthcare providers, staying active, eating mindfully, and following medication plans can all contribute to better long-term control and quality of life.

💡 Did you know? Did you know that many of today’s most talked-about weight-loss drugs were originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes? Medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro were designed to help people with diabetes manage blood sugar levels – but researchers soon discovered they also promote significant weight reduction by acting on the same hormonal pathways that regulate appetite and metabolism. This breakthrough has changed how doctors, employers, and insurers think about metabolic health: it’s no longer just about treating diabetes after diagnosis, but preventing it through earlier, evidence-based interventions.

READ MORE >> Are Weight Loss Medications Covered by International Private Health Insurance Plans?

---

Screening and Early Detection

Routine screening is vital, especially for individuals with risk factors such as family history, obesity, hypertension, or high cholesterol.
Employers can play a proactive role by:

• Offering annual health check-ups that include fasting blood glucose and HbA1c tests
• Partnering with brokers/insurers or wellness providers to organize on-site screenings
• Promoting educational campaigns around healthy eating and exercise

Detecting diabetes early allows individuals to begin treatment before serious complications develop – often leading to better outcomes and lower medical costs.

---

What You Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Diabetes is manageable, and often preventable.

Screen early: Offer or encourage HbA1c or fasting glucose checks as part of an annual health check-up.

Promote healthy lifestyle: Encourage balanced diet, regular movement, maintain healthy weight and avoid tobacco use.

Educate: Make sure employees understand symptoms (increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, fatigue) and the importance of timely diagnosis.

Support well-being: Consider mental-health and stress-management too – living with diabetes often carries psychological burdens.

Benefit design: For employers, ensure health insurance plans and employee wellness programmes account for prevention, early treatment and complication-management (not just acute care).

You can find a comprehensive list of annual health check-ups at leading medical facilities across Asia and the Middle East below >>

---

Resources: Employee Toolkits/Educational Materials

American Diabetes Association Community Resources >>

American Heart Association Diabetes Tools and Resources >>

International Diabetes Federation World Diabetes Day Multilingual Resource Hub >>

British Diabetic Association World Diabetes Day 2025 Strike Out Stigma Campaign >>

Resources: One World Cover Diabetes Awareness Poster

VIEW/DOWNLOAD POSTER HERE>>

# Common social media hashtags for diabetes awareness

#WorldDiabetesDay #DiabetesAwareness #DiabetesLife #KnowYourNumbers

---

How One World Cover Can Help

At One World Cover, we believe that health awareness is an essential part of well-being and cost management. We help organizations:

• Ensure comprehensive coverage for diabetes-related care, including diagnostics, medications, and specialist consultations
• Promote preventive screening packages and annual health check-ups aligned with insurer wellness benefits
• Coordinate with insurers and healthcare networks to support long-term condition management
• Communicate effectively with employees to improve awareness and engagement

We also work with our clients to design benefits and education programs that align with global best practices – ensuring that employees at every life stage receive the care, guidance, and support they need.

---

Annual Health Check-up Packages

Mainland China

Beijing Hong Kong International Medical Center Health Check-up Package CNY3,000 (~USD420)

Beijing New Century Riverville Clinic Health Check-up Package CNY2,600 (~USD365)

Beijing Oasis Health Check-up Package CNY2,990 (~USD415)

Beijing Shunyi Friendship Hospital Annual Health Check-up Packages CNY2,643-2,735 (~USD375-390)

Beijing Raffles Medical Health Check-up Package – Ages 18-35 CNY2,280 (~USD320)

Beijing Raffles Medical Health Check-up Package – Ages 35-50 CNY3,580 (~USD500)

Chengdu Global Doctor Health Check-up Package CNY3,500-3,600 (~USD490-505)

Chengdu BOE Hospital Health Check-up Packages CNY999-2,999 (~USD140-425)

Chengdu Distinct HealthCare Clinic Health Check-up Packages CNY1,500-4,320 (~USD210-610)

Guangzhou EurAm Medical Center Health Check-up Package CNY1,600 (~USD225)

Guangzhou Foresea Health Clinic Health Check-up Package CNY3,400 (~USD480)

Hangzhou Sino-United Health Check-up Package CNY3,000 (~USD425)

Nanjing Global Doctor Health Check-up Package CNY1,988 (~USD280)

Qingdao Bellaire Medical Center Health Check-up Package CNY1,800 (~USD255)

Qingdao New Century Women & Children’s Hospital Health Check-up Package CNY3,400 (~USD480)

Qingdao United Family Hospital Health Check-up Package CNY3,395 (~USD480)

Shanghai Jiahui Health Check-up Packages CNY2,800-7,000 (~USD400-990)

Shanghai Parkway Hospital Health Check-up Packages CNY1,000-3,000 (~USD140-425)

Shanghai Sino-United Health Check-up Package CNY1,000 (~USD140)

Shanghai Sino-United Health Check-up Package CNY2,000 (~USD285)

Shanghai Sino-United Health Check-up Package CNY3,000 (~USD425)

Shanghai Yida Hospital Health Check-up Packages CNY690-12,180 (~USD98-1,728)

Wuhan Distinct HealthCare Clinic Health Check-up Packages CNY3,775-4,110 (~USD530-580)

Tianjin Raffles Health Check-up Package CNY2,880 (~USD405)

Wuhan Asia General Hospital Health Check-up Package – Children CNY1,750 (~USD245)

Wuhan Asia General Hospital Health Check-up Package – Female CNY3,379 (~USD475)

Wuhan Asia General Hospital Adult Health Check-up Package – Male CNY2,916 (~USD415)

Wuhan Optics Valley Hospital Health Check-up Packages CNY1,566-3,662 (~USD220-520)

Yantai Taibo Medical Health Check-up Package – Adolescent CNY2,816 (~USD395)

Yantai Taibo Medical Health Check-up Package – Female CNY2,904 (~USD407)

Yantai Taibo Medical Health Check-up Package – Male CNY2,904 (~USD407)

Hong Kong

Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong Executive Health Check-up Package HKD4,100 (~USD525)

Raffles Medical Hong Kong Essential Health Check-up Package HKD1,580 (~USD205)

Raffles Medical Hong Kong Premium Health Check-up Package HKD2,980 (~USD380)

Taiwan

Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center Health Check-up Package – Ages 18-39 TWD9,600 (~USD325)

Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center Health Check-up Package – Ages 40+ TWD11,200 (~USD365)

Korea

Severance Hospital Basic Health Check-up Package – Male KRW936,000 (~USD655)

Severance Hospital Basic Health Check-up Package – Female KRW1,001,000 (~USD700)

Thailand

Bangkok Hospital Essence Health Check-up Package THB5,400 (~USD165)

Bangkok Hospital Superior Health Check-up Package -Ages 30-40 THB13,300 (~USD405)

Bangkok Hospital Prestige Health Check-up Package – Male Age 40+ THB18,000 (~USD550)

Bangkok Hospital Prestige Health Check-up Package – Female Age 40+ THB24,000 (~USD735)

Vietnam

FV Hospital Standard Health Check-up Package VND4,800,000 (~USD182)

FV Hospital Extensive Health Check-up Package VND7,800,000 (~USD296)

Brunei

Jerudong Park Medical Centre Health Screening

Singapore

Raffles Medical Center Deluxe Health Check-up Package SGD498 (~USD384)

Parkway Shenton Classic Health Check-up Package SGD125 (~USD96)

Parkway Shenton Deluxe Plus Health Check-up Package SGD400 (~USD308)

Malaysia

Columbia Asia Hospital Puchong Health Check-up Package MYR330 (~USD80)

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Core Health Check-up Package MYR329 (~USD80)

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Premium Health Check-up Package MYR999 (~USD235)

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Platinum Health Check-up Package – Male MYR1,980 (~USD470)

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur Platinum Health Check-up Package – Female MYR2,250 (~USD530)

Prince Court Medical Center Essential Health Check-up Package MYR600 (~USD140)

Prince Court Medical Center Emerald Health Check-up Package MYR 1,000 (~USD235)

Prince Court Medical Center Well Health Check-up Package – Male Age 40+ MYR1,500 (~USD355)

Prince Court Medical Center Well Health Check-up Package – Female Age 40+ MYR1,650 (~USD390)

Twin Towers Medical Center Executive Screening Package MYR1,310-1,420 (~USD 310-335)

Indonesia

Siloam Hospitals Silver Check-up Package IDR1,900,000 (~USD115)

EMC Healthcare Male Eternity Health Check-up Package IDR3,300,000 (~USD200)

EMC Healthcare Female Eternity Health Check-up Package IDR4,700,000) (~USD285)

Surabaya Ciputra Hospital Health Check-up Package IDR6,000,000 (~USD360)

National Hospital Surabaya Basic Wellness Package IDR2,750,000 (~USD155)

Medan Columbia Asia Special Health Check-up Package IDR999,000 (~USD60)

Myanmar

Grand Hantha International Hospital Crown Health Check-up Package – Male MMK320,000 (~USD151)

Grand Hantha International Hospital Crown Check-up Package – Female MMK520,000 (~USD246)

Grand Hantha International Hospital King Plus Check-up Package – Male Age 30+ MMK1,100,000 (~USD520)

Grand Hantha International Hospital Queen Plus Check-up Package – Female Age 30+ MMK1,350,000 (~USD638)

India

Mumbai Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Executive Health Check-up Package – Male INR12,500 (~USD140)

Mumbai Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Executive Health Check-up Package – Female INR12,950 (~USD145)

Mumbai Gleneagles Hospital Integra Executive Prime Health Check-up Package – Male INR8,700 (~USD98)

Mumbai Gleneagles Hospital Integra Executive Prime Health Check-up Package – Female INR9,800 (~USD110)

Delhi Fortis Healthcare Female Health Check-up Package INR10,700 (~USD120)

Delhi Fortis Healthcare Male Health Check-up Package INR8,600 (~USD95)

Bangalore Fortis Healthcare Male Health Check-up Package INR13,150 (~USD148)

Bangalore Fortis Healthcare Female Health Check-up Package INR13,150 (~USD148)

Sri Lanka

Nawaloka Hospitals Premier Health Check-up Package – Male LKR41,000 (~USD135)

Nawaloka Hospitals Premier Health Check-up Package – Male 40+ LKR35,000 (~USD116)

Nawaloka Hospitals Premier Health Check-up Package – Female LKR49,000 (~USD162)

Nawaloka Hospitals Premier Health Check-up Package – Female 40+ LKR49,000 (~USD162)

Lanka Hospitals Health Check-up Package

Bangladesh

United Hospital Male Health Check-up Package BDT22,000 (~USD180)

United Hospital Male Health Check-up Package BDT25,800 (~USD212)

Evercare Hospital Dhaka Health Check-up Package BDT21,000 (~USD172)

Evercare Hospital Dhaka Health Check-up Package BDT25,000 (~USD205)

Nepal

Nepal Mediciti Health Check-up Package NPR8,500 (~USD60)

Clinic One Health Check-up Package NPR5,999 (~USD40)

UAE

CMC Dubai Health Check-up Packages – Female

CMC Dubai Health Check-up Packages – Male

Emirates Hospital Male Silver Health Check-up Package – Male AED1,800 (~USD490)

Emirates Hospital Silver Health Check-up Package – Male Age 40+ AED2,000 (~USD545)

Emirates Hospital Silver Health Check-up Package – Female AED2,500 (~USD680)

Emirates Hospital Silver Health Check-up Package – Female Age 40+ AED3,000 (~USD815)

Medcare Basic Health Check-up AED1,599 (~USD435)

Medcare Basic Health Check-up – Male Age 40+ AED1,599 (~USD435)

Medcare Basic Women’s Health Check-up – Female Age 40+ AED1,599 (~USD435)

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh Saudi German Hospital Health Check-up Package SAR1,799 (~USD480)

Jeddah Saudi German Hospital Health Check-up Package SAR722 (~USD190)

Qatar

Wellkins Medical Center Health Check-up Packages

Aman Hospital Health Check-up Packages

Jordan

Abdali Hospital Health Check-up Packages

Israel

Ichilov (Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center) Executive Health Program

Turkey

Memorial Hospitals Group Check-up Center

Liv Hospital Health Check-up Packages

Turkiye Hospital Health Check-up Packages

Morocco

Clinique Averroes Marrakech Health Check-up Packages

** Important Note: While we help guide members to high-quality options, OWC Care does not act as a medical referral service. The final decision on where to seek care rests with the individual. We are not liable for any decisions made by the member or the medical provider.