YMCA OF GREATER PROVIDENCE WORKING TO STOP DIABETES ON MARCH 25 ANNUAL AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ALERT DAY

The YMCA of Greater Providence will provide pre-diabetes risk assessments on March 25 at many of their locations as part of the effort to observe the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Alert Day making the public more aware of the risks associated with type 2 diabetes. By the year 2050, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every three American adults will be affected by type 2 diabetes.

“Diabetes is a serious health threat,” says Jim Berson, president/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Providence. “Because type 2 diabetes is one of the most significant public health threats we face in this country, we want to make sure the YMCA is one of the leading voices encouraging anyone who may be concerned about diabetes, to take the risk assessment at one of our branches. 26 million Americans cope with type 2 diabetes every day, and another 79 million may not realize they are at risk.”

As part of its commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to adopt a healthy lifestyle, the YMCA of Greater Providence offers the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program. This community based lifestyle improvement program, open to YMCA members and non-members, is for adults who have been told they are pre-diabetic or at risk for type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the year-long program is to empower adults with lasting lifestyle changes that will reduce or delay the development of type 2 diabetes, while improving overall health. Participants attend 16 weekly sessions, and then 8 monthly sessions.

According to Neta Taylor-Post, vice president of healthcare initiatives at the YMCA of Greater Providence, “the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program improves health outcomes, and helps prevent rising healthcare costs for those individuals who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.” Taylor-Post, who will be speaking at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School on Prediabetes: Current Understanding and Available Programs as part of the Rhode Island Department of Health Chronic Care and Disease Management Program, says that annual out-of-pocket medical expenses for someone without diabetes is about $3,673; while someone with diabetes is $9,202. Additionally,” she comments, “someone with diabetes and other associated conditions can incur out-of-pocket medical costs of $17,762.”

“Fortunately,” says Berson, “with days like March 25 that bring heightened awareness to the issues around diabetes, and programs like the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program there is great hope that the incidences of diabetes can slowly be abated. Adopting a healthy lifestyle through such programs can lessen the days of missed work, lessen the dependence on medications and add years to one’s life.”

Risk Assessment Clinics will be available on March 25 at:

Bayside YMCA, 70 West Street, Barrington - 8-10 am

Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Avenue, Cranston - 5-7:30 pm

East Side, 438 Hope Street, Providence - 5:30 – 7:00pm

Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road, Warwick – 10 am – noon

Newman YMCA, 472 Taunton Avenue, Seekonk, MA – 5-7 pm

West Bay YMCA, 7540 Post Road, North Kingstown - 8:30 – 11 am

For more information on the Risk Assessment Clinics and the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, please call Joni at 401-427-1843 or email jbloom@gpymca.org.