Bemidji Residents Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes with Proven Program

According to Sanford Health, community members can prevent Type 2 diabetes with the year-long Diabetes Prevention Program starting Feb. 21, 2017 at Sanford Bemidji 1611 Anne St. Clinic. Guided by trained lifestyle coaches, participants will learn skills to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active and managing stress.

The program is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is free to qualifying individuals.

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 can be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

“One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater,” said Heather Tverstol, Sanford registered nurse and a lifestyle coach for the program. “The Diabetes Prevention Program offers 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 Diabetes Prevention Program groups meet for a year — weekly for the first 16 weeks, then once a month for the remaining 7 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 similar changes. Together participants celebrate their successes and find ways to overcome obstacles.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is based on research that showed that people with prediabetes who lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person) by making modest changes reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

Nationwide implementation of the program could greatly reduce future cases of type 2 diabetes, a serious condition that can lead to health problems including heart attack; stroke; blindness; kidney failure; or loss of toes, feet, or legs.

“Small changes can add up to a big difference,” said Tverstol. “Working with a trained lifestyle coach who provides guidance, Diabetes Prevention Program participants are making lasting changes together.”People are more likely to have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if they:

• Are 45 years of age or older;
• Are overweight;
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes;
• Are physically active fewer than three times per week; or
• Have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.

To participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program, individuals must have a diagnosis of pre-diabetes with a blood test (A1c) and be willing to commit to the 12-month program.

For more information or to register, contact Sanford Bemidji’s Diabetes Prevention Program at (218) 333-5373.