Really…you want to order that extra-large fries? Why not buy a YMCA membership instead? It’ll probably be more worth your while considering the skyrocketing number of people that have pre-diabetes these days. What is that huge number you ask – well, it’s over 60 million Americans! YES, you read it right. 60 million. That also means 60 million people who are at risk of a heart attack, stroke, blindness or other obesity-related health problems.
The YMCA is doing something great - it has partnered up with Indiana University School of Medicine to deploy a real-world adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is meant to help people learn about and adopt healthy eating and exercise habits that have been proven to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The program gives people with pre-diabetes support and encouragement from both a trained lifestyle coach, and fellow classmates to develop a plan for improving and maintaining overall well-being.
To potentially be eligible to join this program, one should have a body mass index higher than 24, more than 2 diabetes risk factors (which include age, personal history, family history, race and ethnicity, weight and waist measurement, smoking, physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption) and a blood glucose level within a specified range. 6 months after the pilot program was deployed, it was found that the 92 participants, who were more often woman of non-white race, had lost 5.7 kgs on average compared to only 1.8 kgs in control participants. Cholesterol levels of participants also dropped significantly compared to the control group. These differences were sustained for 12 months.
What are some things you should take away from this pilot program?
1) Lifestyle modification is very effective to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. People at high risk for developing diabetes were able to achieve and maintain a reduction in body weight and a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels.
2) The YMCA is a great place for wide-scale spread of this low-cost approach to lifestyle diabetes prevention! Soon this program may be offered at a YMCA near you. So keep your eye out for it. Go ahead, get involved, and improve your health today!
Quote from an expert:
"We are leveraging our national health care resources, the YMCA's and Walgreens' presence in local communities, our combined wellness expertise and the experience of two innovative, proven pilot programs to help people make lifestyle changes to prevent or control diabetes."
-Stephen Hemsley, president and CEO of UnitedHealth Group
Rita Wakim, MA., is interested in diabetes research: prevention and health outcomes. She is currently working towards a doctoral degree in Health Policy and Management at Emory University.
Reference:
Ronald T. Ackermann, MD, et al " Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program into
the Community The DEPLOY Pilot Study." American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2008): 357-363.
