Suffolk County health officials invite residents who are at risk for developing type-2 diabetes to attend a program that will help them reduce their risk. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) supports moderate behavioral changes that incorporate healthy eating and physical activity. The program is free of charge.
According to the New York State Department of Health, diabetes is the most rapidly growing chronic disease of our time, affecting approximately one of 10 adults in Suffolk County, with the prevalence among minority populations even higher.
According to the CDC, more than one in three adults in the US has prediabetes, and 80% are unaware of their condition. Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
“We aim to improve the health of residents in Suffolk County by offering the evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention program to county residents free of charge,” said County Executive Ed Romaine.
The program offers residents the support they need to make small lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being.
“Diabetes puts the body at risk for many serious health conditions,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk Couny Health Commissioner. “The good news is that moderate changes in lifestyle can help restore blood sugar to normal levels and result in significant health benefits.”
DPP is based on a research study led by the National Institutes of Health. The study showed that with intensive counseling and motivational support, participants were able to make behavioral changes, reducing their risk for developing diabetes by 58 percent. Lifestyle changes worked particularly well for participants aged 60 and older, reducing their risk by 71 percent.
The Diabetes Prevention Program is led by a trained lifestyle coach. It meets one hour per week for 16 weeks, then monthly for the remainder of one year. The next sixteen-week series will begin August 23, 2024, at from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the SYJCC located at 30 Hauppauge Road in Commack. The program will meet thereafter from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. on the following dates: August 23, 30; September 6, 13, 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 22; December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 24; February 7, 21. The remaining dates will be determined at a later date.
To register, call Debora @ 853-2928 (Pre-Registration is required)
For more information or to find out if you are at risk for diabetes, visit the Diabetes Prevention Program page on the Suffolk County website or call the Office of Health Education at 631-853-2928.
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