Preventing type 2 diabetes
The Social Issue
Diabetes is a global health epidemic, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The World Health Organization projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030. The disease often brings with it health complications including limb amputation, blindness, and heart disease.
Today, Israel is home to
about 500,000 diagnosed diabetics. In addition, there are roughly another 500,000 pre-diabetic patients who are at high risk of contracting the
disease.
Although Israel´s health system is designed to guarantee treatment to patients with disease, not enough resources are available for preventative measures. As a result, patients often receive treatment only after the onset of the disease or related complications. As the single most effective form of preventing type 2 diabetes is to implement lifestyle modifications, SFI set out to make a change.
It goes without saying
that the health challenges that face a diabetic patient are dreadful. Unfortunately,
type 2 diabetes is detrimental to the patient´s economic wellbeing as well as that of Israel at large.
1. The patient and their family may suffer from mental distress, deteriorated health, loss of working days and diminished earning capacity.
2. The Israeli economy has seen the cost of treating type 2 diabetes rise to almost NIS 5B a year, which is divided among the budgets of several government ministries. These costs include medical expenses, hospitalization stays, insurance costs and disability benefits.
This SIB implements a
five-year intervention program that is centered on personalized lifestyle
modifications. The program will work with three separate cohorts of
pre-diabetics at high risk of contracting the disease. Over the course of two years,
participants will be motivated to improve their lifestyle, receiving guidance
in nutrition and exercise, constant mentorship and oversight from a case
manager. The program will make use of technologies such as wearable fitness
devices and mobile applications, to provide participants and managers with
real-time analysis of progress, as well as means of instant communication and
support. After patients complete two years of activities, their blood
measurements will be tracked for a further three years, and the impact of the
program will be assessed.
As one of the world´s first Social Impact Bonds in preventative health care, this SIB is attracting global interest. The underlying intervention is centered on implementing behavioral and lifestyle changes that can effectively lead to the reversing of diabetes symptoms and prevent its onset.
The Numbers
The Benefits
It goes without saying that the health challenges that face a diabetic patient are dreadful. Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes is also detrimental to the patient´s economic wellbeing, along with various other stakeholders.