Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, including employer health and wellness screening and health improvement services, announced a unique collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) aimed at helping more people understand their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The collaboration aims to help identify people living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes by increasing access to laboratory screenings through Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness, the company's employer wellness offering. Starting on American Diabetes Association Alert Day on March 28 until April 27, 2017, Quest Diagnostics will donate $1 up to $200,000 to the American Diabetes Association for every employee wellness screening Quest completes on behalf of employers. The company's employee wellness screening typically includes laboratory analysis of blood to help identify diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.

Quest employees will also collaborate with the American Diabetes Association to participate in the "Wellness Lives Here" initiative to share insights on how to lower the risk of developing diabetes, as well as action steps that can be taken to lower glucose/hbA1c once diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 86 million people—or approximately one third of the American adult population—is living with prediabetes. Those in this group have higher than normal blood glucose levels, but the levels are not high enough to warrant a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. However, these individuals are at heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. With no clear symptoms, nearly 90 per cent of individuals do not know they have the condition.

"Type 2 diabetes is a national health epidemic that can be prevented through identification of prediabetes coupled with the delivery of effective diabetes prevention programs for individuals," said Jay Wohlgemuth, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president, R&D and senior leader for Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness. "The partnership with the American Diabetes Association allows us to leverage our corporate wellness business and its national footprint to help identify populations within the workforce that are at risk for the disease, increase screening awareness, and deliver effective prevention programmes."

In addition to the toll of managing diabetes, type 2 diabetes increases healthcare costs for employers, and contributes to work loss and health-related work limitations.

"We are grateful and excited to have Quest serve as a key partner of our movement to increase awareness of prediabetes and risk for type 2 diabetes," says Alicia H. McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD, CPsychol, vice president of Lifestyle Management, American Diabetes Association. "Kicking off on Alert Day, together we can emphasize the importance of annual health screenings, help people learn if they're at risk for type 2 diabetes and promote healthy lifestyle choices. Funds raised from this partnership will help us support lifesaving research and life changing programs that benefit millions of people living with diabetes."

Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness helps companies, both large and small, empower their employees to take positive changes resulting in better health. The company's complete menu of options for employers to improve the health of their employees including customizable screening, reporting and incentive solutions to fit needs that ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare-related costs.