YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program
REDUCE YOUR RISK
Type 2 diabetes affects more than 26 million individuals across the country and more than one million people in the Carolinas. Prediabetes is a serious health condition and a precursor to developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease that can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and other complications.
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating healthier through nutrition coaching, increasing physical activity, and losing a modest amount of weight in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease.
Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can reduce the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58% and 71% in adults over age 60.
How it Works
In a classroom setting, a trained lifestyle coach facilitates a small group of participants in learning about healthier eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over 25 sessions. The year-long program consists of 16 weekly sessions and then three sessions every other week during the first six months followed by 6 monthly sessions in the second six months.
PROGRAM GOALS
- Reduce body weight by 7%
- Increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week
Who Can Participate?
Participants who qualify for the program must be at least 18 years old, overweight (BMI > 25)* and at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes indicated by a confirmatory blood value† or a clinical diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes (GDM) during previous pregnancy. If a blood value or diagnosis is not available, a qualifying risk score may be used to enroll.