Crook County offers diabetes prevention program – KTVZ

Diabetes is on the rise in Crook County. According to the most recent County Health Rankings, Crook County has one of the highest diabetes rates in Oregon, and it has been climbing steadily over the last 6 years. This may be due in part to our aging population.

Individuals over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for diabetes, and its precursor, prediabetes. Lack of physical activity is also another major risk factor. 19% of Crook County adults report getting zero leisure time physical activity.

In September, the Crook County Health Department launched a Diabetes Prevention Program called Prevent T2 to help reduce rates of type 2 diabetes. Prevent T2 is a class for people with prediabetes or who have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

Prevent T2 is a program developed by the CDC. It is based upon research that showed that people with prediabetes who lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person) by making modest lifestyle changes reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. For persons over the age of 60 their risk is cut by 71%.

In the program individuals work with a trained lifestyle coach to learn how to eat healthy, add physical activity to their routine, manage stress, stay motivated and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes. Prevent T2 groups meet for a year weekly for the first 6 months, then once or twice a month for the second 6 months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. Participants of the group that started in September have finished the first 6 months and many have reached their weight loss goals.

The most valuable part of this class for me has been knowing that I have accountability to someone and that it is an extended period of time," said Sue Barnhouse, a current class participant. The information presented in the class has been valuable and given me a reason to continue to make changes in my activity and eating habits that really do make a difference in how I feel.

Crook County Health Department will be offering another class starting May 25th. in partnership with St. Charles. This new class will meet Wednesdays from 5:15 6:30pm at the IronHorse Lodge community room 435 NE Wayfinder Dr. Prineville. The class will be led by two trained lifestyle coaches, Kylie Loving the Diabetes Prevention Coordinator for Crook County, and Carlyn Young, a registered dietitian at St. Charles in Prineville. This class free and open to the public. Interested individuals can come to the first class May 25th to learn more and sign up for the program.

Prediabetes is a condition that often goes undiagnosed, but it is estimated that one in three Americans has it. People are more likely to have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if they:

Are 45 year of age or older;

Are overweight;

Have a family history of type 2 diabetes;

Are physically active fewer than three times per week;or

Have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.

To participate in the Prevent T2 program, a person must be 18 years of age or older, have a clinical diagnosis of pre-diabetes, or have the risk factors listed above.

To find out more about the Crook County Diabetes Prevention Program, contact Kylie Loving at 541-447-3260 ext. 133 or email her at Kloving@h.co.crook.or.us.

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Crook County offers diabetes prevention program - KTVZ