Diabetes Alert Day
Tuesday, March 28, 2017 is Diabetes Alert Day. More than 29 million Americans are living with diabetes, and 86 million are living with prediabetes, a serious health condition that increases a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. 
Prevent Diabetes KC
LiveWell Johnson County recently partnered with the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County to launch www.preventdiabeteskc.com, a one-stop shop for the bi-County area’s Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPP). DPP is a year-long lifestyle change program designed to prevent type 2 diabetes in prediabetic adults. Groups of 8-14 go through the CDC-approved curriculum as a group and focus on nutrition, physical activity, stress management and problem solving. A trained lifestyle coach facilitates the course.
One in three U.S. adults has prediabetes, which means that their blood sugar is high, but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis—yet. Without lifestyle change, 15-30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Risk factors include being overweight, family history of diabetes, and getting little or no physical activity. Age and minority status also play a role.
The website is the public face of a year-long effort by LiveWell and their partner organizations to build up DPP programs. Users will find programs at churches, libraries and grocery stores around town, each with unique offerings that appeal to individual needs. For instance, the YMCA’s DPP includes a six-month family gym membership to help participants reach their goals; Juntos and the YMCA offer classes in Spanish; and the Balls Foods class is facilitated by nutrition experts and pharmacists. More programs will come online in the spring.
Organizations such as churches and businesses can offer DPP to their groups through free lifestyle coach training, data management tools and ongoing technical assistance available from the Department of Health and Environment. Diversifying program delivery will ensure that all County residents can find a program that works for them.
Are You At Risk?
Knowing the risk factors for diabetes is the first step in prevention. About 90 percent of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. Find out what your risk factors are: click on www.preventdiabeteskc.com and take the two minute risk assessment. If you’re in the danger zone, talk to your medical provider and check out the list of Diabetes Prevention Programs to find a class that works for you!