Lawrence County Health Department earns CDC Recognition for its Diabetes Prevention Program
June 15, 2016
The Lawrence County Health Department has earned Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Full Recognition for its National Diabetes Prevention Program. This designation is 
reserved for programs that have effectively delivered a quality, evidence-based program that meets all of the standards for CDC recognition.
The health department’s Change for Life Diabetes Prevention Program is a one-year community-based program designed to enable adults to make lifestyle changes that will improve their overall health and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. “Nine out of ten people with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it,” said Ashley Wilks, diabetes prevention program lifestyle coach. “Without weight loss and physical activity, 15 – 30% of those with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.”
In a classroom setting, a trained lifestyle coach will help you change your lifestyle by learning about healthy eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over the course of one year. Topics covered include nutrition, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated, and more. The program consists of 16 weekly sessions followed by six monthly sessions.
While a year may sound like a long commitment; learning new habits, gaining new skills, and building confidence takes time. As you begin to eat better and become more active, you’ll notice changes in how you feel, and maybe in how you look. “It’s not a fad diet or an exercise class or a quick fix,” said Wilks. “It’s a year-long program focused on long-term changes and lasting results.”
Research led by the National Institutes of Health showed that people with pre-diabetes who take part in a structured lifestyle change program can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. Even after 10 years, people who completed the program were 1/3 less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
For more information, call Ashley Wilks at 606-638-9500 or visit https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/prediabetes-type2/preventing.html.
Take the Diabetes Risk Test at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pdf/prediabetestest.pdf.
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Lawrence County Health Department is located at 1080 Meadowbrook Lane, Louisa, KY 41230. Visit our website at www.lawrencecountyhealthdepartment.com or find us on Facebook.
Contact:
Ashley Wilks
606-638-9500
