NKFM TAKES ACTION AGAINST DIABETES THIS NEW YEAR WITH MY CHOICE...MY HEALTH WORKSHOP IN CHELSEA

This New Year, make a healthy change in your life by taking the steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. As part of a statewide prevention campaign, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan will offer a My Choice…My Health: Diabetes Prevention Program® workshop in Chelsea starting Jan. 13, 2016 with the goal to reduce the number of people dealing with diabetes. This 16-week program is designed for those at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes in communities where the need is greatest, with the goal that participants will adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The 16-week course is for participants with prediabetes, a condition where an individual has higher than normal blood glucose levels increasing their risk for developing type 2 diabetes, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. The workshops are led by a trained lifestyle coach during weekly one-hour group sessions and eight monthly sessions that follow. Participants are taught how to modify their lifestyle and sustain goals, including:

· Losing 5 – 7% of their starting body weight

· Adopting healthy eating habits

· Increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week

· Learning to recognize and overcome barriers to healthy eating and physical activity

Of the more than 2.6 million Michigan adults with prediabetes, only 8.2% are aware of their condition. According to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, in 2014 an estimated 65.6% of Michigan adults were classified as being overweight or obese, and 25.5% of Michigan adults reported not being regularly physically active. The prevalence of prediabetes increases with age due to factors such as overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, and other risk factors.

“Prevention is key,” said National Kidney Foundation of Michigan Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer Dr. Art Franke. “With one in three people having prediabetes and not knowing, we saw a need to raise awareness and build a proactive program to combat a dangerous disease that we know can be prevented. We are bringing My Choice…My Health to several cities throughout Michigan because of the high levels of prediabetes in the state.”

Since the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan began offering My Choice. . . My Health in November 2012, over 730 people have participated, resulting in more than 6,126 pounds lost, an average weight loss of 5.4% of starting body weight, an increase of 167 average minutes of physical activity per week, and lowered medication usage and improved chronic disease factors in participants. Results have shown that 89% of participants are “very confident” in their ability to eat healthier and 88% of participants are “very confident” in their ability to be active 150 minutes per week after completing the program.

My Choice…My Health workshops are led by NKFM certified coaches, some of whom have struggled themselves with prediabetes and have participated in My Choice…My Health. “The program provides a strong support system,” said National Kidney Foundation of Michigan Senior Program Manager and Lifestyle Coach Kristie King. “The participants encourage and challenge one another to reach their health goals. It’s not about losing a large amount of weight, it’s about reaching and sustaining your best health - so that you are around for key life events like when your child gets married or has children, or so you can still be active after your retirement.”

An information session for the My Choice. . . My Health: Diabetes Prevention Program in Chelsea will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 from 7-8 p.m. at the Chelsea Wellness Center, 14800 E. Old U.S. Highway 12. The first session will begin on Monday, Jan. 20 at the same time and location.

For those who are interested in participating in this workshop, a doctor can tell you if you are at risk for diabetes, or you can find out your risk via the risk test at www.nkfm.org/dpp. This risk test will also be provided at the information session. For a complete list of workshop, visit www.nkfm.org/dpp or contact the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at 800-482-1455.