The Fond du Lac Family YMCA is now forming classes for the next session of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program– an innovative program proven to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes – one of the nation’s costliest chronic diseases. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a group-based lifestyle intervention for adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and has been shown to reduce the number of new cases of diabetes by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60. The next session is now forming, with an evening class session to run on Tuesdays from 5:00-6:00 pm. Additional classes will be formed throughout the year.
The community is invited to the informational Diabetes Prevention Program Session Zero, to allow prospective participants the chance to learn more about the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, as well as hear testimonials from past participants and meet Mary Jo (MJ) Neumann, Healthy Living Director. The session is free and will take place on Monday, August 29, 2016 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA. Register in advance in person at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA, by calling 920.921.3330, or online at fdlymca.org on the Diabetes Prevention Program page.
“What’s staggering is that currently, 79 million have prediabetes but only 11 percent are aware of it”, says Neumann. “Knowing your risk for prediabetes is the key to taking control and reducing these statistics. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program empowers participants to make lasting lifestyle changes that will improve their overall health and reduce their chance of developing type 2 diabetes.”
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long program with the first 16 sessions delivered weekly over 20 weeks, followed by sessions 17-19 delivered every other week, then sessions 20-25 delivered monthly. In a relaxed classroom setting, a trained Lifestyle Coach helps participants learn skills that will help them incorporate healthy eating and increase physical activity and other behavior changes into their everyday lives. The goals of the program are 7 percent weight loss and an increase in physical activity to 150 minutes per week. To be eligible for this program, participants must be at least 18 years old with a BMI of 25 or greater and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Youth under 18 and persons diagnosed with diabetes do not qualify. A Y membership is not required for participation.
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, and other national organizations committed to preventing chronic disease. For more information about this program contact Mary Jo (MJ) Neumann at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA at mjneumann@fdlymca.org or 920.921.3330 ext. 336.