Elkins, WV –One in three American adults has prediabetes. Without weight loss or moderate physical activity, many of them can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
If you have prediabetes, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) can help you make lasting changes to prevent type 2 diabetes. You will work in a group with a trained lifestyle coach to learn how to eat healthy, add physical activity to your life, manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes.
Jim Severino, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, is Director of Nutrition Services for Davis Medical Center (DMC). “So many people in our community have prediabetes and one in eight aren’t aware they have it,” Severino said. “This program offers a real chance to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by adopting a healthier lifestyle.”
DMC is partnering with the Randolph County Health Department, the West Virginia University Extension Service, and the Elkins Randolph County YMCA for the program. It is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is jame proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Classes are forming now and begin January 10, 2017. The group will meet weekly for the first 6 months, then once a month for the second 6 months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. The program is based on research that found people with prediabetes can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. That is about 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds.
“A family physician can determine if a patient has prediabetes or is at risk for developing type 2 DM through blood testing,” said Severino. He added that the CDC offers a diabetes assessment tool on their website that can be accessed via www.doihaveprediabetes.org.
“Research shows that people who were aware of their condition were 30 percent more likely to exercise and get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. They were also 80 percent more likely to attempt weight loss and to have shed at least 7 percent of their body weight in the past year,” added Severino.
“Small changes make a big difference,” said Severino. “With a trained lifestyle coach as a guide, you can work with others who have prediabetes to make a change for life.”
