Diabetes Prevention Program Coming to West Bloomfield

Diet is an important factor in controlling or preventing type 2 diabetes. (Photo via Creative Commons)

_________________

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) presents the My Choice . . . My Health: Diabetes Prevention Program in West Bloomfield at the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. My Choice. . . My Health is a 16-week course, which helps those at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, causing more than 40 percent of all kidney failure cases. However, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. 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.

“Diabetes is one of the most serious health challenges in America today,” said Dr. Art Franke, Senior VP and Chief Science Officer at the NKFM. “My Choice. . . My Health is a powerful answer because it provides participants with the tools to take greater control over their health and work toward staying diabetes-free.”

My Choice. . . My Health’s results show that by modifying diet and exercise, participants can lose a small amount of weight—5-7 percent of starting body weight—and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Weekly meetings are one hour long and take place in a group setting where a trained lifestyle coach helps participants learn about behavior changes, including eating properly and increasing physical activity. After the 16 sessions, participants will also meet for 6 monthly meetings for additional support.

An hour-long informational session will be held on Wednesday, January 28 where prospective participants can learn more about My Choice. . . My Health. Sessions for My Choice. . . My Health will begin on Wednesday, February 11. Both the informational session and the regular sessions will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, located at 6777 W Maple Rd, West Bloomfield.

My Choice. . . My Health is free for Priority Health members. To learn about other payment options, please visit www.nkfm.org/dpp. In order to meet minimum class sizes, class start dates may need to be rescheduled.

To qualify, participants must be overweight and at a high risk for developing diabetes, or overweight and diagnosed with prediabetes. For those interested in participating, a doctor can tell if you’re at risk for diabetes, or you can find out if you’re at risk with a screening assessment. Participants are encouraged to register by contacting the NKFM at 800-482-1455 or by emailing preventdiabetes@nkfm.org. For more information, visit www.nkfm.org/dpp.