Stopping it before it starts
Journey to a Healthier Me program aims to curb diabetes epidemic
D
Diabetes is the eighth-leading cause of death among
Cabarrus County residents, according to the North
Carolina State Center for Health Statistics. In the
U.S. in 2015, 30.3 million people had diabetes and
84.1 million had prediabetes, according to the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While diabetes can strike at any age, one in four adults
over the age of 60 are diagnosed with the disease.
Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), the local health
department, continues to help prediabetic community
members through a free * 12-month program called
Journey to a Healthier Me. A diagnosis of prediabetes
means that you have elevated blood sugar, but not high
enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Journey to a Healthier Me participants typically lose
at least 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and get
at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
Those two lifestyle changes can cut the risk of type 2
diabetes in half, according to the CDC.
Participants are supported by a lifestyle coach and
their peers. They also receive incentives (pedometer,
water bottle, yoga mat, portion plate, etc.) to help them
achieve and maintain their health goals. Participants
also learn how to manage stress, eat healthy on a bud-
get, get active and develop an overall healthy lifestyle.
Oak Grove participants successfully completed Phase 1
and are ready for Phase 2
UPCOMING EVENT
Community Conversation on Diabetes
Thursday, March 21, 11:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Cabarrus County Senior Center, Concord
RSVP by March 14, 704-920-1362
FREE event which includes:
• Diabetes prevention and management education
• Screenings
• Live cooking and exercise demonstrations
• Discussion on improving health outcomes and
reducing health disparities
Diabetes causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal (hyperglycemia). Early detection is essential
to the prevention of diabetic health complications, such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, or loss of
feet or legs.
Prediabetes means that your blood glucose is elevated, but not high enough to be diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic.
Lifestyle changes are crucial at this stage, because 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2
diabetes within three to five years if no changes are made.
TIP: Checking your fasting blood glucose and/or hemoglobin A1C at your yearly physical is recommended
and increases the chance that any concerns would be found within the prediabetic stage.
* The $5 program fee for Journey to a Healthier Me is refunded at the 10th class.
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JOURNEYS Spring 2019