The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) and the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation have partnered to offer the “My Choice . . . My Health: Diabetes Prevention Program” in Chelsea.
An hour-long information session will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 where prospective participants can learn more about the program.
The group starts meeting on Wednesday, April 30 from 7-8 p.m. Both the informational session and regular weekly meetings will be held at the Chelsea Wellness Center, 14800 E Old US- 12.
The informational session on April 23 is free and open to all who are interested in preventing diabetes, and will give listeners information to help them decide whether the program is right for them.
There is no cost to participate in the “My Choice . . . My Health” program, however, you must qualify.
This marks the third time since January 2013 that the NKFM and CWF have partnered to bring this program to the CWF service area.
“Diabetes is a nasty disease impacting far more people in our community than many of us imagine,” said Amy Heydlauff, executive director of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation in a press release.
“Most people who realize how serious it is will do a lot to avoid it,” she said, adding, “The prediabetes program provides all the support you need to make changes that will delay or prevent diabetes.”
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, causing more than 40 percent of all kidney failure cases. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through healthy lifestyle changes. Research shows that losing a moderate amount of weight and being physically active can help delay type 2 diabetes among those who are at risk.
“Since a majority of kidney disease cases caused by diabetes could have been prevented or delayed, taking control of your health can reduce your risk for kidney damage,” said Dr. Art Franke, senior VP and chief science officer at the NKFM.
“My Choice . . . My Health provides participants with the tools to take greater control over their health and works positively toward the NKFM’s mission to prevent kidney disease and improve the lives of those living with it,” he said in a press release.
My Choice . . . My Health is a 16-week program, which helps those at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Meetings are one-hour long and take place in a classroom setting where a trained lifestyle coach helps participants to learn about behavior changes, including eating properly, increasing physical activity, and losing a modest amount of weight.
After the 16 sessions, participants will also meet monthly for one year for additional support in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The classes will be held at the Chelsea Wellness Center so participants have access to welcoming, functional, centralized meeting space.
“The Chelsea Wellness Center is proud to host the program again,” stated Cindy Cope, senior director at the wellness center. “We invite participants to make the most of their visit to the Wellness Center. Participants of the program are welcome to come early or stay after class to walk the indoor track for up to 30 minutes,” she said.
In 2013, the NKFM and Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation partnered to offer My Choice . . . My Health at the Chelsea Wellness Center. By the end of the 16-core sessions, 19 of the participants lost an overall average of 5 percent of their starting body weight and averaged 290 minutes of physical activity each week.
The group has continued to lose weight during the 9 months of post-core sessions and at this time has lost an average of 8.9 percent of their starting weight.
“This program taught me how to create better eating habits,” said one participant in a press release. “I make an attempt to exercise at least 150 minutes a week – most of the time more than that. I never thought I could be so successful at achieving my goals. I feel better than I have felt in years.”
“Based on the results of the clinical trial, over half of the individuals from the last class held at Chelsea Wellness Center will delay or prevent type 2 diabetes—a great step forward in NKFM’s goal to tip the scales against this epidemic,” said Franke.
To qualify for the program, you must be overweight and at a high risk for developing diabetes, or overweight and diagnosed with prediabetes. In order to participate in the program, a doctor can tell if you’re at risk for diabetes with a blood test, or you can find out if you’re at risk with a screening assessment.
Screening assessments will be offered on April 23 at the informational session. A combination of factors such as family history, gestational diabetes, and high cholesterol are other factors that can increase the risk for developing diabetes.
Participants are encouraged to register for the program by contacting Leigh Vogelsong at the NKFM at 800-482-1455 or at [email protected].
Participants can also register online and learn more about the program at www.nkfm.org/dpp.
