The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was
developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has been
shown to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes. Chaffee
County Public Health (CCPH) is a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program and
offers DPP classes for free starting in February
and September in Buena Vista and Salida. For more information and to sign-up,
call 719-539-4510 or 719-530-2572.
Although we live in one of the
healthiest counties and states in America, did you know that the current
diabetes rate in Colorado would rank as the highest rate in America just 30
years ago? And that our County diabetes rate of 6.5%, combined with
national pre-diabetic statistics, equates to at least 20% (3,800) of Chaffee
County residents are either diabetic or prediabetic?
Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels
are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Progression from prediabetes to diabetes can take as little as five years.
Approximately 90% of those with pre-diabetes remain unscreened or undiagnosed. Several risk factors increase a person’s risk of
prediabetes, including:
o
Being overweight.
o
Being physically active less than three times per week.
o
Having a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes.
o
Being over the age of 40.
o
Being a man.
o If
you’re a woman, having a history of gestational diabetes.
Prediabetes is real so know where you stand. You can find
out if you are at risk for prediabetes by taking the online risk test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org and a blood test can also
confirm. “Genetics may load the gun” but lifestyle and diet help pull the
trigger. The sooner you make healthy changes, the better your chances to
reverse pre-diabetes. While you may have a
predisposition to type 2 diabetes, you are not predestined and you are not
alone.
Participants in the local Diabetes Prevention Program
(DPP) have this to share:
“My spouse joined me in the 16+ sessions to learn about
and help support our lifestyle changes at home. Amazingly, she lost weight
throughout the sessions and in the same amount that I did – we each lost
30lbs!”
When asked “what keeps you coming to Diabetes Prevention
Program classes”, participants share: supportive accountability from the group, ideas about practical eating habits and
how to overcome challenges, how track my daily food and exercise, awesome
support from the Lifestyle Coach, healthier grocery shopping habits, and
it’s fun and it works!