StemCell Therapy

By Andrea Ray | Feb 11, 2017

There are currently 680,771 people in Massachusetts with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Thats 12 percent of Massachusetts adult population - and roughy 162,000 of them havent been diagnosed.

Additionally, 1.7 million people in Massachusetts have been diagnosed with prediabetes - 35 percent of the state's adult population. The disease and its complications, including heart disease, stroke, non-traumatic lower-leg amputation, kidney disease and blindness, costs Massachusetts $8.1 billion every year according to the ADA.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is fighting to change these statistics. The class is a year-long, lifestyle change, according to Dara Midwood, YMCA Southcoast diabetes prevention coordinator. It was introduced to the Southcoast YMCA two years ago.

The goal of the classes, which are held at five of the six Southcoast locations (Swansea, New Bedford, Dartmouth, Wareham and Fall River) is to lower participants body weight by 5-7 percent in the first 16 weeks of the class, and to teach participants better lifestyle habits.

The first 16 weeks, the participants meet for one hour per week with a certified diabetes counselor, who will teach them how to read labels, make healthy choices, and increase their physical activity.

At the end, participants should be able to increase their physical activity to 150 minutes per week. Its not a diet program, Midwood said. We dont say that you cant have it. We explore your options to be able to eat in a healthy manner.

The classes are held in small-group format, where participants can exchange ideas and share problems and successes with others in the same boat. The success of the program is based on people being able to find out what works for them, Midwood explained.

Current program member Christine Schryver showed the group MyFitnessPal, a phone application which breaks down what is in the food you eat, and tracks exercise. She enjoys the supportive small-group atmosphere. Ive done Weight Watchers, Ive tried dieting on my own, she said. This works for me.

The local classes have smashed their goals. The last Wareham class lost an average of 6 percent of their bodyweight in the first 16 weeks. Wareham's program leader, certified lifestyle coach Lu Brito, said one participant in his class lost 46 pounds in that space of time.

"One hundred fifty minutes of walking every week, and developing a maintainable healthy lifestyle. She can still eat mostly what she wants, she just knows how to do it in a healthy manner. Thats all it took.

New classes will begin in March - for more information, inquire with Diabetes Prevention Coordinator Dara Midwood, at 508-996-9622 ext. 141, or ymcadpp@ymcasouthcoast.org.

Read more here:
Gleason YMCA class aims to prevent diabetes - Wareham Week

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