Franciscan Health is offering pre-diabetic patients the opportunity to help prevent or delay Type 2 Diabetes with its year-long Diabetes Prevention Program. Franciscan Health’s 12-month Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have proven to prevent or delay Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetes is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., impacting more than 37 million American adults. Few realize Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes, like those implemented through the Franciscan Health Diabetes Prevention Program.
Groups meet for 16 weekly sessions and six monthly follow-up sessions with a trained lifestyle coach, who guides participants in practices to help build energy and confidence, lose weight naturally, and reduce stress and anxiety. Program goals include reducing body weight by five-to-seven percent and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week.
The program only is open to participants 18 years old and older, who have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, not those who have previously been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. They also must have a body mass index greater than 25. Those who had a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or a screening result indicating a high risk of Type 2 Diabetes also are eligible to participate.
A free informational session is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, at 5 p.m. Central, in the third-floor conference room at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic, 7905 Calumet Avenue in Munster. Sessions are scheduled to begin June 12 and will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. Central, at the same location.
The cost of the year-long program is $99. Registration is required and space is limited. To register for the class and for more information contact Amy Lambert at amy.lambert@franciscanalliance.org or call 219-306-4745.