Stay In School

The journal Health Affairs has published a study suggesting that young persons with diabetes might lose as much as $160,000 in income through a lifetime, based on a 40-year work period, as compared to non-diabetics.

The study linked lower earnings to higher high school dropout rates, potentially due to more health-related absences.

It is noted that high school dropout rates are 6% higher among diabetics and diabetics are less likely to go on to college.  The study states, “high school and college graduates earn 1.5 and 2.7 times more than high school dropouts, respectively.”

"Job lock" is mentioned as a contributing factor to lower wages in employees with diabetes.  These patients may not be as willing to look for new, and better, jobs for fear of losing health insurance.  

The complete article is here.