Prevent diabetes with FSPY's upcoming health and wellness program

This summer, put your health first. If you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA (FSPY) is offering a program beginning this July to help you on your path to health and wellness.

FSPY’s Diabetes Prevention Program, which is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is designed for those with prediabetes. The condition occurs when a person’s blood glucose is elevated, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. According to the CDC, 88 million American adults have prediabetes and more than 8 in 10 of those with prediabetes don’t know they have it. In addition to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke.

The good news for those with prediabetes is that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58% (71% if you’re over age 60). The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is starting a new session of the program this July and will be holding an in-person information session and meet and greet on July 8 at 6:30pm outside the Y building, 1340 Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains. The information session and program are open to the community; you do not have to be an FSPY member to participate.

The year-long YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program will begin on July 15 and participants will meet virtually Thursdays at 6:30pm. The program starts with 16 weekly virtual sessions led by a trained lifestyle coach. This gradually eases to two sessions per month and then one session per month. The program helps adults lose weight through healthier eating and increased physical activity, potentially preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.

“Last year, we started a program right before our YMCA closed due to COVID-19 and we decided to keep going virtually,” said Donna Peart, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA’s Healthy Living Director who leads the program. “I was so impressed by how well the participants continued to do, even when our doors weren’t physically open, and they had an average 7% weight loss at the end of the program. This shows that with hard work, determination, group support – whether in-person or virtual – and the right tools, reducing your risk of developing diabetes is not only possible, but achievable.”

Individuals can assess their risk for type 2 diabetes by taking a simple test at YMCA.net/diabetes. Through this assessment, visitors also can learn how lifestyle choices and family history help determine the ultimate risk for developing the disease. Several factors that could put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes include race, age, weight and activity level. If a person is at risk, a diabetes screening conducted by a physician can confirm a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.

For more information about how to qualify for the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, contact Donna Peart at dpeart@fspymca.org or 908-889-8880.

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About the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the individuals, families and communities it serves through programs and services that build wholeness of spirit, mind and body. The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization founded on Christian principles, serving people of all ages, races, faith, cultures and socio-economic conditions. For information on membership or programs, or to request a schedule of classes, please call the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA at (908) 889-8880 or visit https://fspymca.org. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.