The Champaign Family YMCA, Mercy Memorial Hospital and the Champaign County Health District are partnering to provide a free 12-week Community Diabetes Prevention Program. This class, which starts on Jan. 25, will meet noon-1 p.m. on Mondays at the YMCA, 191 Community Drive in Urbana. The program is open to adults already diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and those at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Over 30 million American adults have diabetes. One-quarter of this total consists of people unaware that they have the disease. Additionally, more than 86 million American adults are “pre-diabetic.”
The program is led by three area professionals: Mercy Memorial’s chief clinical dietician, Elaine Dyar; Karla Green, the Champaign Health District’s director of nursing; and Jennifer Post, the YMCA’s health enhancement director.
Are you at risk?
A physician can tell adults if they’re at risk for developing diabetes with a simple blood test. Having risk factors – a family history of diabetes, being overweight, having elevated blood cholesterol, women who’ve had gestational diabetes – may put an adult at an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
What to expect
Class participants will be encouraged to keep a food diary and workout journal throughout the 12-week program. Progress through the program will be partially gauged via pre- and post-class measurements of body weight, body composition and A1C measurements. Participants will learn to prepare healthier foods after learning what constitutes a healthy diet for managing/preventing diabetes. Exercise instruction is included to help participants maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Participants who are not YMCA members may pay $40 for the 12-week program, then use the YMCA facility and programs. Each participant who successfully completes the program will receive a one-month membership to the YMCA at the time of graduation. Participants are encouraged to pick up a physician referral form from the Y or from the Health District.
For additional information, contact YMCA Health Enhancement Director Jennifer Post at 937-653-9622.
