CRANBERRY TWP — Diabetes impacts more than 30 million Americans, with even more at risk of developing the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of Americans — 84 million — have prediabetes. One-in-four aren't even aware of that fact. Overall, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the country.

With numbers increasing annually, organizations in Butler County — including the YMCA and Butler Memorial Hospital — are finding new and creative ways to help those living with the disease.

Diabetes Prevention Program

At the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry, the Diabetes Prevention Program recently completed its first year with a cohort of 10 people.

Those 10 participants lost a total of 190 pounds, learned ways to live healthier lifestyles, and found a support group for continued success.

According to Mary Lee Majewski, a trainer who helped lead the program alongside Laurel Sutterfield, participants were sought who met certain criteria, including age, family history of type 2 diabetes and physical activity.

The program is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, with instructors presenting tips for being active and eating better.

According to Sutterfield, lessons included everything from stress management to eating healthy while traveling. The program also required participants to get 150 minutes of exercise weekly.

Meetings started with a weigh-in and healthy snack, and offered discussions on what was working for the group. That sense of camaraderie was perhaps the biggest takeaway for many, and Majewski said several participants indicated they would keep in touch after their program ended.

Both Sutterfield and Majewski said they were confident all participants learned the skills to continue to be successful moving forward.

Majewski said before the final meeting the group had lost 8.8 percent of its body weight — above the 5 to 7 percent recommended by the CDC.

She hopes the program's success will lead to it being covered by Medicare. Officials enrolled 20 more people for the group that started in July.

For more information, contact Kathy Hensler, healthy living director, at 724-452-9122, Ext. 226, or jkhensler@bcfymca.org.

Diabetes TotalCare

A diabetes management team at Butler Memorial Hospital offers numerous options for those dealing with the disease, with a focus on improving quality of life.

The Diabetes TotalCare online program works to ensure participants have access to the tools they need to manage their conditions.

Resources such as checklists, reminders, access to online educational materials, planning and to-do list help and surveys are available online. The free program can be accessed from any phone, computer or tablet with Internet access.

A teleconferencing option is also available for one-on-one discussion about problem solving, meal planning and other management issues.

The team also offers individual appointments with a nurse educator to create a self-management plan, as well as free classes to explore options in a group setting.

Registered dieticians are also available to create a medical nutrition plan for patients with the disease.

For more information, call Diabetes TotalCare at 724-284-4374.