Franciscan Health is offering prediabetic 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 5 to 7 percent and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week.
The program is only open to participants 18 years old and older who have been diagnosed as prediabetic, not those who have previously been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They must also 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 are also 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 Ave. in Munster. Sessions are scheduled to begin June 12 and will take place from 5 p.m. 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.
