YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

RECRUITING NOW for our next class set to BEGIN April 14 at 5 PM

The YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program is helping reduce the burden of chronic disease in communities across the nation. The program helps those at high risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating healthier, increasing physical activities, and losing a modest amount of weight in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

How it works

The program provides a supportive environment where participants work together in a small group led by a trained Lifestyle Coach in a classroom setting.

It is delivered over a 12-month period, beginning with 16 weekly sessions followed by monthly maintenance.

The instructor will discuss tops such as healthy eating, increasing physical activities, reducing stress, problem-solving, and many more important topics.

The program helps participants stay motivated while they progress towards program goals with monthly maintenance sessions.

Research by the National Institutes of Health has proven that programs like the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program can reduce the number of cases of type 2 diabetes by 58%. The reduction was even greater, 71%, among adults aged 60 or older. The YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program is part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention-led National Diabetes Prevention Program and is nationally supported by the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance.

Program Goals:

• Reduce body weight by 7%

• Increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week

Goals can be met by learning strategies for:

Healthy Eating- Eating smaller portions, reducing fat in your diet, and discovering healthier food options. 

Increasing physical Activity- As little as 30 minutes, five days a week of physical activity (walking, swimming, mowing the lawn, exercise) can help improve your blood pressure, raise your good cholesterol, and prevent blood flow problems. 

Losing Weight: It has been shown that reducing your body weight by even a small 7% can offer you tremendous benefits for people at risk for diabetes. This program will help participants meet their goals and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.

The YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program can decrease the number of new type 2 diabetes cases by more than half and give individuals at high risk for developing the disease tools for healthy living.