Cranberry YMCA proud of its diabetes prevention program
CRANBERRY TWP — Last March, 72-year-old Dee Ruckert, of New Sewickley, knew she had to do something about her physical health before it was too late.
“My husband was diagnosed with diabetes, and I was diagnosed with prediabetes,” Ruckert said. “So I found this class, and it really taught me a lot.”
The class is the diabetes prevention program at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township — a 12-month program for those who have signs of prediabetes or may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
“We've been offering this program at our Y for over five years, and we have been successful each year at helping people lose weight,” said Kathy Hensler, healthy living director at the YMCA.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of the 38.4 million Americans who have diabetes, 8.7 million, or 22.7%, were not officially diagnosed by a doctor. Furthermore, 97.6 million Americans 18 or older, or 38% of the adult population, are prediabetic.
Prediabetes sufferers have abnormally high blood sugar levels, but not quite high enough to be classified as diabetic. Unlike diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed, which is what programs like the YMCA’s diabetes prevention program are here for.
Hensler said the program has continually delivered results in the five years since it was introduced. Over the last three years, all of its members have achieved weight loss of at least 5%.
“It takes a year to do because it's not a quick fix,” Hensler said. “It’s a lifestyle change that these participants go through. So we try to make them understand that we're not going to wave a magic wand and they're gonna immediately lose weight.”
Ten months into the current program, Ruckert says she’s lost 40 pounds and her waist has shrunk by at least 13 inches.
“I'm a person who never exercised, hated to exercise,” Ruckert said. “And now I'm exercising at least three times a week, maybe four times a week.”
The program is nearing the end of its current season, and a new 12-month season begins on Thursday, March 7. Each year, the curriculum is slightly refreshed according to the latest diabetes research from the CDC.
The bulk of the program is focused on weight loss, physical activity and good nutritional habits, all of which are proven to lower the risk for diabetes.
“The instructor provides material on exercise, nutrition, stress management, shopping healthy, cooking healthy, preparing meals, how to make sure you’re getting enough sleep,” Hensler said. “It’s one step at a time. It’s a step-by-step healthy lifestyle program.”
There are specific criteria one has to meet to be eligible to enter the program. Applicants must have a body mass index greater than 25, an A1C level between 5.7 and 6.4, a plasma glucose level between 140 and 199, and a fasting glucose level between 100 and 125.
“You cannot do this program if you already have diabetes,” Hensler said. “We are required by the Centers for Disease Control to only present this program to people that are prediabetic.”
The website for the YMCA has a list of questions for applicants to determine whether or not they may be at risk of diabetes and whether the program would be a good fit for them.
“One of the questions is if you’re older than 45 years of age,” Hensler said. “Are you overweight? Do you have a family history of type 2 diabetes? Are you physically inactive?”
The program costs $400 for non-YMCA members and $330 for YMCA members. However, costs may be covered by Medicare or insurance.
