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Diabetes is an epidemic that is significantly affecting the health and economy of the U.S. 1 in 9 U.S. adults have diabetes. CDC estimates that if current trends continue, as many as 1 in 3 Americans could develop diabetes in their lifetime. Bladen County Health Department is participating in the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program.
The Bladen County Health Department is offering a proven-effective lifestyle change program to people with pre-diabetes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The Health Department has received recognition status from the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program, which was established to assure the quality and consistency of lifestyle change programs being delivered in communities around the country (see www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/recognition/index.htm).
The program is led by a skilled Lifestyle Coach, Caitlin Dalton, who has been specially trained by the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC) at Emory University, an official partner of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (see www.dttac.org). Dalton is a skilled facilitator who has successfully completed the DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training. The Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC) at Emory University, an official partner of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, trains the Lifestyle Coaches who are bringing the lifestyle change program to communities around the country
The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program offers communities an effective lifestyle change program that is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Program participants at high risk for type 2 diabetes meet in a group with a skilled Lifestyle Coach to learn ways to incorporate healthier eating and moderate physical activity into their daily lives. During the 16 sessions -with the option to continue, participants work with the Lifestyle Coach and the group to identify and discuss overcoming barriers to making these modest lifestyle changes.
Learn more about the National Diabetes Prevention Program and where the lifestyle change program is being offered in your community.
*If you have a BMI of 24 or higher (22 or higher if you are of Asian descent) and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, then you may be eligible to participate in the lifestyle change program.
*You can determine your risk by: 1) Having a blood test to measure your blood sugar conducted by a health care professional 2) Taking the “Could you have Prediabetes?” risk assessment quiz like the one at www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention.
*To find out more about the National Diabetes Prevention Program, go to: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention.
For more information on the lifestyle change program at Bladen County Health Department please contact Caitlin Dalton, Nutritionist & Lifestyle Coach at 910-872-6250.
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