Local Support available to help prevent type 2 diabetes

Nutrition, Fitness 8 years ago MIKE BURNS Less than a minute to read

There are a lot of things in our life that we cannot control or prevent. Fortunately, Type 2 diabetes is one thing that we can prevent or at least delay with some knowledge, effort and perseverance.

As an adult, any time is a good time to gauge your risk for pre-diabetes and diabetes and to talk to your doctor. Of the 86 million people with pre-diabetes, only 10 percent know their condition. In addition to the high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, people with pre-diabetes are also at risk of developing other chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood glucose is elevated, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. To address this issue, the Sheboygan YMCA offers the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, which helps adults lose weight through healthier eating and increased physical activity, which can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a group-based lifestyle intervention for adults at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and has been shown to reduce the number of new cases of diabetes by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60.

As a leading charity committed to building a community of integrated health across the country, the Y wants residents of Sheboygan County to understand their risk for pre-diabetes and steps they can take to prevent developing type 2 diabetes. Rising diabetes rates cost the nation $245 billion annually for a disease that is preventable with simple lifestyle changes like eating better and getting more physical activity.

Individuals can assess their risk for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes by taking a simple test at YMCA.net/diabetes. Through this assessment, visitors can also learn how lifestyle choices and family history help determine the ultimate risk for developing the disease. Several factors that could put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes include race, age, weight and activity level. If a person is at risk, a diabetes screening conducted by a physician can confirm a diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led National Diabetes Prevention Program, is a 12-month evidence-based program that features a lifestyle coach who helps participants learn tactics for healthy eating, physical activity and other lifestyle changes during 25 one-hour classroom sessions. Long-term program goals include reducing participants’ body weight by 7 percent and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week.

Nationally, more than 47,000 people participated in the program at more than 1,600 sites in 47 states throughout the country. Participants who completed the yearlong program lost an average of 5.5 percent of body weight and completed an average of 160 minutes of physical activity per week.

For more information about the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, or to register for classes starting in January, please contact the YMCA at 920-451-8000, or mburns@sheboygancountyymca.org.

Mike Burns is the Vice President of Programming at the Sheboygan County YMCA.