Suffolk County Health Offers Free Program to Help Residents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes to Reduce Their Risk
Suffolk County, NY - May 21, 2018 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Department of Health Services Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken invite residents who are at risk for developing type-2 diabetes to participate, free of charge, in the county-administered National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The program supports moderate behavior changes and has proven to reduce risk in those who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
“We seek to reverse in Suffolk County the nationwide trend toward increased rates of diabetes. This program addresses the behaviors that contribute to diabetes, a disease that exacts enormous costs to the individual, the family and the community,” said Executive Bellone.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 84 million American adults—more than 1 out of 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, 90 percent don’t know they have it. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Minority populations are at especially high risk.
“Though diabetes puts people at risk for many serious health conditions, the good news is that moderate changes in lifestyle can result in significant health benefits,” said Dr. Tomarken.
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 Type 2 Diabetes by 58 percent. Lifestyle changes worked particularly well for participants aged 60 and older, reducing their risk by 71 percent.
The Suffolk County 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.
Wednesdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 11, 18, 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; September 5, 12, 19, 26, 2018
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Office of Health Education
725 Veteran’s Memorial Highway, Bldg. C-016, Hauppauge, NY 11788
Contact: Debora 631-853-2928
For more information call the Office of Health Education at 853-3162 OR visit HERE.