MOULTRIE, Ga. – Colquitt Regional Medical Center is leading the prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in its workforce by implementing the CDC Program to Prevent T2 Lifestyle Changes.
The hospital recently received preliminary recognition for this program from the CDC, the hospital said in a press release. This designation is reserved for organizations that are effectively delivering a high quality, evidence-based program and have demonstrated progress in achieving full CDC recognition.
The program is led by Jimmy Bloodworth, Colquitt Regional Director, Corporate Wellness, and Whitney Costin, Director, Patient Experience, who are both CDC certified trainers.
The program is specially designed for pre-diabetics and provides participants with the skills they need to make lasting changes, such as: B. Lose a modest amount of weight, be more physically active, and deal with stress.
People with prediabetes – people with blood sugar (sugar) levels above average – are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with normal blood sugar levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within five years.
“One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater,” said Jim Matney, regional president and CEO of Colquitt. “We understand that our staff must take care of themselves in order to take exceptional care of our patients. This program is another great resource for our existing corporate wellness initiative that promotes a comprehensive approach to health. “
Prevent T2 groups from meeting for a year – weekly for the first six months, then once or twice a month for the rest of the year. A group setting for participants provides a supportive environment for people facing similar challenges and trying to make the same changes, the hospital said.
The program is based on research that showed that people with prediabetes who lost five to seven percent of their body weight through modest changes reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.
Those who are prediabetic and don’t make these changes early are at higher risk of developing serious conditions associated with type 2 diabetes, such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, or loss of toes, feet, or legs.
People are more likely to have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if they are 45 years of age or older, are overweight, have a family history of type 2 diabetes, exercise less than three times a week, or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant or not gave birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds.
