Chronic Health Initiatives

YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

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TAKE CONTROL

The YMCA of Central Kentucky is helping residents of Lexington and surrounding counties cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, an innovative program that teaches people to make lifestyle changes that lead to greater health.

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and a staggering 79 million people have prediabetes, a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

“The Y is dedicated to strengthening community, and the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is helping individuals in Lexington avoid developing type 2 diabetes by teaching them new behaviors that can last a lifetime,” said Debbi Dean, Director of Total Health at the YMCA of Central Kentucky. “Through this program, the Y is equipping more people in our community with the tools they need to live a healthier lifestyle and, ultimately, improving the health of our community as a whole.”

The YMCA of Central Kentucky is one of 46 Ys nationwide participating in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. The program is based on research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that showed losing a moderate amount of weight and increasing physical activity lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in people with prediabetes. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Individuals who particpate in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program take part in 16 one-hour classroom sessionswith a trained lifestyle coach who helps them learn about healthy eating, physical activity and other lifestyle changes. Following these sessions, participants meet monthly for up to a year for added support in reaching their ultimate goals of reducing body weight by 7 percent and participating in 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Through lifestyle changes and modest weight reduction, a person with prediabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is supported nationally by UnitedHealth Group and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is available at 46 Ys in 23 states. Visit http://ymca.net/diabetes-prevention for more information.

To learn more about the YMCA’s Chronic Health Initiatives please contact Debbi Dean at 859-367-7332 or ddean@ymcaofcentralky.org.

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