(Long Island, NY) Community members are preventing Type 2 diabetes thanks to a Diabetes Prevention Program offered at St. Joseph Hospital. Guided by a trained lifestyle coach, groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, becoming more physically active and managing stress.
People with prediabetes, higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels, are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within three years if they do not take steps to prevent it.
“One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater,” said Alysa Ferguson, MS, RD, CDE, director of the Diabetes Education Center at St. Joseph Hospital. “We offer a proven approach to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through modest lifestyle changes made with the support of a coach and one’s peers.”
Participants learn how to eat healthy, add physical activity to their routine, manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes. The group meets once a week for 16 weeks, then once a month for 6 months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. The program’s group setting provides a supportive environment with people who are facing similar challenges and trying to make the same changes. Together, participants celebrate their successes and find ways to overcome obstacles.
St. Joseph Hospital’s program is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The local program meets at St. Joseph Hospital, Tuesday evenings, the next group begins August 4th. Please call the Diabetes Education Center at (516) 520-2214 for more information and to see if you qualify.
St. Joseph is a 203-bed, community hospital and a member of Catholic Health Services. It provides comprehensive inpatient medical, critical care and surgical services.
