YOU CAN TAKE CONTROL
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps those at high risk adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
DPP is based on the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing a small amount of weight, a person with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58%.
In a classroom setting, a trained lifestyle coach will help you change your lifestyle by learning about healthy eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over the course of 16 one-hour sessions. Topics covered include nutrition, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated, and more. After the initial 16 core sessions, you will meet monthly for up to a year for added support to help them maintain their progress.
Program Goals:
- Reduce body weight by 7 %
- Gradually increase physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week
Can I participate?
To qualify for the program, individuals must be overweight and at high risk for developing diabetes or overweight and have been diagnosed by a physician as someone with pre-diabetes.
Am I at risk?
- Your doctor can tell you if you are at risk. He can determine this through a blood test with one of the following results:
- Fasting plasma glucose between 100 – 125 mg/dL
- HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%
- Random or casual blood glucose level of 240-199 mg/dL or higher
- A combination of risk factors such as family history, overweight, gestational diabetes, elevated cholesterol, etc., may also put you at high risk. Call 817-566-1049 to find out if you are eligible.
To register or to find out if you are eligible, contact Mashariki Cannon at 817-566-1049
United Healthcare members should check with their employer for program availability, or contact the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance to confirm eligibility at 1-800-237-4942.
Click here for more information.
Hear our latest participant story:
"In November of 2011 my workplace sponsored a health fair in
collaboration with the YMCA. One of the events was a free diabetic
testing. I decided to participate to see where I stand since diabetes run in my
mother's side of the family. Boy did I get the shock of my life to find I was
one point away from becoming one of the 26 million Americans who have type 2
diabetes. It was there I met Mashariki Cannon who introduced me to the
Diabetes Prevention Program as a way to prevent disease and to learn a
different way of becoming healthier. She also introduce me to Michelle Parker,
YMCA Northpark Lifestyle Coach.
The support I received from Shelly & Mashariki
has been very instrumental in the goals I have achieved these past 7
months. I have learned so much during the program I was able to
completely change my eating habits without having to do anything drastic. I
made changes in the little things which created a positive impact in my health
and well-being. So it's not a diet per say, it's simply a change in my
lifestyle. My eating habits and how I view food
has been a critical component. Of
course exercising every
other day has helped me achieve an even bigger impact on my goal toward being
healthier.
Since joining the Y, the exercises I'm currently doing is mostly
strength training and cardio. I really love the spin classes the Y teaches. I
really feel good about myself!
The program was an eye opener. I have tried other programs before. But every time I
lose significant weight, I always gain it back. But this program teaches me to not only lose the
weight, but to keep it off as well. The
program gave me the tools I need to keep healthy and to keep diabetes at bay.
When I started this program, I weighed in at 280.4 lbs. and I
was in the danger zone of becoming diabetic. Now I am currently at 235.8 lbs. I
hope to be
just under 200 by this time next year.
The experts say that diet and exercise is the key to good health
and there are no silver bullets to easy weight loss. Sometimes you just have to
bite the bullet and make good choices to achieve a healthier lifestyle. It
won't be done overnight but at least you know you can get it done. Thank
you Shelly and Mashariki.
I
couldn't have done it without your encouragement and support!"