Diabetes Prevention

Enrolling NOW for English and Spanish evening classes. Both in-person and virtual options are available.

In the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program, a trained Lifestyle Coach will introduce topics in a supportive, small group environment and encourage participants as they explore how healthy eating, physical activity and behavior changes can help reduce their risk for diabetes and benefit their overall health.

Based on research funded by the National Institutes of Health, this program has been shown to reduce the number of new cases of Type 2 diabetes by as much as 58 percent in adults. The reduction was even greater, 71 percent, among adults aged 60 years or older.

Nearly 86 million American adults, that's one in three, have prediabetes. People with prediabetes are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years unless they take action to prevent or delay the disease. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve disease.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a recognized program by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is Diabetes?
 

Diabetes is a condition where your body causes blood glucose (sugar) to rise higher than normal. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly. Initially, the pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for insulin resistance. Over time, the pancreas cannot keep up and make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at normal levels.

Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

Program Details

  • The 12-month, 25-session, group-based program consists of one-hour, weekly sessions, followed by monthly sessions led by a trained Lifestyle Coach who facilitates a small group of people with similar goals.
  • Participants explore how healthy eating, physical activity, and behavior changes can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
  • The monthly maintenance sessions help participants stay motivated to maintain progress toward their goals.

Program Goals

Lose 7 percent of your body weight, and gradually increase your physical activity to 150 minutes per week. You will do this by learning strategies for:
  • Healthy Eating: Eating smaller portions, reducing fat in your diet, and discovering healthier food options has been shown to help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
  • Increasing Physical Activity: Studies have repeatedly shown that moderate physical activity (walking, swimming, mowing the lawn) for as little as 30 minutes a day, five days a week can help improve your blood pressure, raise your good cholesterol and prevent blood flow problems.
  • Losing Weight: It has been shown that reducing your body weight by even a small amount (as little as 5 to 7 percent) can offer tremendous benefits for people at risk for diabetes.

How do I qualify? 

To qualify for the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, participants must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Overweight (BMI>25, Asian adults, BMI>22)
  • At high risk for developing type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

Enrollment

We are enrolling now for classes delivered virtually, in-person, and hybrid.

To learn more and enroll, contact our YMCA EBHI Program or call (336) 478-9622.

Interest Form

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