Article submitted by The Wellness Coalition
The past couple of years have brought many challenges to our families and communities, and we’ve come to recognize the importance of taking care of both our mental and physical health. Having good health impacts everything we do and the life we love.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 88 million US adults have prediabetes, meaning they have higher blood sugar levels than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. More than 8 in 10 of those with prediabetes don’t know they have it. Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes but can be preventable with lifestyle changes.
Why You Should Worry
Type 2 diabetes can put limits on what you enjoy most – having the health and energy for family, work, and hobbies that make life meaningful. It can also increase your risk for other serious health conditions like heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. Type 2 diabetes isn’t reversible, but the good news is that prediabetes is!
You Don’t Have to Get Healthy Alone
The Wellness Coalition offers the Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. (CYL2) program. CYL2 is an at-home lifestyle change program to help adults with prediabetes add healthy habits into their everyday lives as part of CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. In the program, you’ll meet people like you who are also working to improve their health and lower their risk for type 2 diabetes. Our trained Lifestyle Coaches lead the program and will help you find what works best for you and encourage you on your health journey.
“It’s the complete program that makes the difference. It’s not just about exercise. It’s about understanding what’s good to eat and all the stuff that comes up with stress and how to take care of your heart,” said Tom, a program participant.
Find out if you are at risk of prediabetes now by taking a short quiz at bit.ly/CYL2TWC.
What changes can I Make to Help Avoid Developing Type 2 Diabetes?
Just because you have a family history of diabetes, or have been diagnosed with prediabetes, doesn’t mean you are destined to develop it. Making small lifestyle changes now — like eating healthier, being more physically active, and managing stress — may help you avoid having to manage type 2 diabetes for the rest of your life.
How Can CYL2 Help Me Make These Changes?
The CYL2 program can help you take charge of your health to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Research found that the program helps people make small lifestyle changes and cut their risk of type 2 diabetes by more than half.
CYL2 reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes and many other chronic conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. The goal of the program is to help you lose 5 to 7 percent of your weight — that’s only 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds — by eating healthier and being more physically active. This will improve your health and cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Find Your Inspiration for a Healthier Life
While the benefits speak for themselves, it can feel overwhelming to think about how to live healthier. You may think you don’t have the time to be more active or the desire to give up all your favorite foods. With CYL2, we celebrate life and show how living healthy can add to that, not take away from it. It’s possible to make small changes that make a big difference, like adding some extra veggies to your favorite meal or playing outside with a pet or your grandkids to be more active.
How much does CYL2 cost?
There is no cost to you. CYL2 is conducted in partnership with the Black Women’s Health Imperative through a cooperative agreement with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those with Medicare, your insurance will pay for the program.
When does CYL2 meet?
CYL2 meets for 1 year with weekly meetings for the first 4 months, and meetings twice a month for the following 8 months, to help maintain your healthy lifestyle changes. Call (334) 293-6502 to find out when classes are available and how you can join!
We want you to enjoy your best life, full of time with family, friends, and the activities you care about. By taking steps to eat healthier, get more physically active, solve problems that can slow your progress, and manage stress, you can set yourself up to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. You do so much for others, so make sure to take some time for yourself too and learn more today about the lifestyle change program.
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