If your blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you can have pre-diabetes without even knowing. Watch the video below and learn how food is digested, how insulin helps you process sugars (glucose) in your blood, what happens when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or your body becomes resistant to it and more. In addition to testing, learn about things you can do to prevent pre-diabetes, which leads to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Watch this video and get the info you need.
Diagnosed with pre-diabetes? The Diabetes Prevention Program through Valley’s Lifestyle Medicine Center or a local YMCA can help keep you from developing type 2 diabetes.
The Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based, lifestyle change program to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The program is designed for those who are diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Research shows that structured lifestyle interventions can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half.
At Valley Medical Center, patients have the option to participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program at two different locations, the YMCA and the Lifestyle Medicine Center. While the programs are both recognized by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are a few differences.
Both programs are CDC-recognized and include certified lifestyle coaches, curriculum on preventing type 2 diabetes, and include weekly, facilitated group sessions held virtually throughout the one-year program. The goal of these programs is to focus on changing behaviors. Patients commit to the one-year program, and the hope is to help those at risk reduce their body weight by 5-7% and increase their physical activity to 2.5 hours per week.
*Sessions are weekly for the first four months, then every other week for two months, then monthly for the remainder of the program. (Program length: One year)
1 Membership to the YMCA starts after session 5, and includes access to all facilities, including the gym, pool and group fitness classes. Childcare is also available.
Lifestyle Medicine
The Lifestyle Medicine Center at Valley Medical Center offers a unique approach to managing and preventing type 2 diabetes through our Diabetes Prevention Program. In addition to using the CDC-approved education curriculum, our three centers also have skilled medical professionals onsite with services that can assist participants on their path to improved health. The Lifestyle Medicine program offers three free medically-integrated exercise sessions as part of the program, and if their participants enroll into the Lifestyle 365 program, their enrollment fee into the DPP program will be waived. The Lifestyle Medicine program is medically supervised and guided by a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Participants have options to add services to their personal program such as nutrition and physical therapy. Whether you want to explore exercise in a more goal driven, prescriptive way with our certified Exercise Specialist, get individualized nutrition therapy with our Registered Dietitian or team with a Physical Therapist to solve the movement limitations that are preventing you from becoming active, The Lifestyle Medicine Center is ready to be your partner to maximize your results! Many of our services are also covered by medical insurance, including Medicare. Register for Valley’s Diabetes Prevention Program.
- Locations in Renton, Maple Valley and Covington with classes available virtually
- 24-hour fitness access available in our Lifestyle 365 prescriptive exercise program
- Additional fees or insurance billing apply for our partner clinical programs and gym memberships
- Free virtual HealthyCare information session available to learn more about all our services
YMCA
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is here to support you in reaching the health goals that matter to you. Our Diabetes Prevention Program takes place in virtual and in-person classroom settings (depending on location). A trained Lifestyle Coach will help facilitate a small group of participants in learning about healthier eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over a 12-month period, beginning with 16 weekly, one-hour sessions followed by monthly maintenance for added support to maintain progress. In addition, participation in the Diabetes Prevention Program through the YMCA offers access to community-based facilities across King County, coupled with a vast array of virtual online resources to support physical activity and healthy eating goals. Whether it is group exercise, mental health counseling, or a family cooking class, the Y has something for everyone.
- Virtual programming accessible to all regardless of location
- Free access to 13 YMCA facilities across King County and virtual exercise and health programs through temporary program membership, including a three-month gym membership at the start of each enrollment
- The YMCA is able to provide the program in Spanish
- Non-prescriptive approaches to health behavior change in a non-clinical environment
- Childcare available onsite* in YMCA facilities and other individual and family programs**
- * Childcare services available if participant registers for full membership—may incur drop-in fee for temporary members: times and availability vary by facility
- ** Some YMCA programs and services are free to members and some incur a separate fee—financial aid is available to all
