The Health Federation of Philadelphia’s (HFP) Diabetes Prevention Program will welcome four new groups this summer and fall. The program focuses on helping prediabetic individuals make lifestyle changes to delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes using evidence-based principles in a group setting.
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is promoted by the Centers for Disease Control as an effective strategy to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. HFP has been a recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program provider since July 2018. The current program expansion is supported by “CDC 23-0020 A Strategic Approach to Advancing Health Equity for Priority Populations with or at Risk for Diabetes.” Those interested in learning more or participating in the program can call (215)-567-8001 or visit Connect4Health to complete an interest form.
Individuals taking part in the year-long educational program, which is offered in English and Spanish, learn about diabetes and making healthy lifestyle changes, with topics ranging from fitness and nutrition to managing and identifying stressors. An emphasis is placed on the well-being and needs of the participants and the unique challenges they face.
“Oftentimes, health information is hard to digest and people can be discouraged by difficult or drastic changes in diet or lifestyle,” Cliff Brown, the Program Manager for Diabetes Prevention and Management at HFP, said. “To help with this, the Diabetes Prevention Program collaborates with participants to find where they are able to make manageable adjustments for their health.”
Lifestyle coaches at HFP, partner health centers, and organizations across the city of Philadelphia, will encourage participants to complete 150 minutes of physical activity each week and explore healthy food options to hit the goal of losing 5-7% of their body weight over the course of the program. To help, participants are provided with exercise equipment, a Bluetooth-enabled scale to track weight changes, and several healthy food boxes of produce throughout the year.
The program serves as an important source of community and social support for participants. Many connect outside of the meetings to share resources such as healthy recipes and coupons for produce at local stores. An alumni group has also been created to give participants another chance to stay connected once their cohort ends.
Groups will be hosted by the following organizations:
According to the CDC, among adults 59 years old and younger, participation in a year-long diabetes prevention program has been proven to reduce the probability of developing Type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.
-HFP-
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