Temple’s diabetes prevention program has positive impact – The Philadelphia Tribune

A Philadelphia police officer is crediting a preventative health program with helping him make significant lifestyle changes.

For the last six months, Eric Scott has participated in Temple University Health Systems Diabetes Prevention Program.

The goal of the long-term program is to help people prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesnt produce enough insulin to regulate blood glucose. Diabetes can increase the risk of heart attack, kidney failure, nerve damage or stroke.

The American Diabetes Association notes there are about 30 million Americans living with the condition, while 86 million have prediabetes. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

The free yearlong program, which is led by the Temple Center for Population Health, was launched back in 2014. Since its inception, 22 people have graduated from the program which is funded with a grant from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Innovation and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

Scott was introduced to the Diabetes Prevention Program through Law Enforcement Health Benefits in October 2016.

I thought the program would be good and it has proven to be effective, he said.

Program participants meet once a week in small groups for the first six months and then monthly for the remainder of the program.

The sessions are led by trained lifestyle coaches who help participants learn new skills and achieve their goals. The goals include a 5 to 7 percent weight loss from their starting weight and increasing their physical activity level to at least 150 minutes per week. Participants are required to track their food intake and weight loss and submit information on a weekly basis.

The coaches guide the classes through a curriculum developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on modest weight loss and increasing physical activity. Temple is currently offering diabetes prevention classes at the hospital, Jeanes Hospital, Bright Hope Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries and La Forteleza.

The program is a group program and we are encouraged by the other participants who are there, Scott explained.

We sort of share our stories as to what are some of the ups and downs or highs or lows that we had faced during the week. We have wonderful facilitators who have been really helpful and resourceful.

Edoris Lomax, the program coordinator for Temples Diabetes Prevention Program, said the initiative has an important educational role.

It also plays a role in educating people in the community about diabetes but also what prediabetes is because many people havent heard of prediabetes and actually educating them on what diabetes is and the possibility that they can prevent becoming a diabetic just by virtue of making small lifestyle changes, said Lomax, who also facilitates some of the classes.

For Scott, tapping into the program is paying off. His A1c level, a measurement of the average blood sugar level, has been increasing during the last five years. Scotts A1c level has decreased and hes lost almost 20 pounds since he joined the program.

I feel more energetic, said the 56-year-old Pittsburgh native.

Im moving a lot better and Ive adopted the lifestyle thats what this is, its a lifestyle.

He cut back on unhealthy options such as fried foods, cakes, potato chips and soda and is more engaged in his health. He has learned about the importance of monitoring his sugar intake, counting calories and and reading food labels.

Scott has a history of hypertension and high cholesterol, two risk factors for the development of diabetes. He understands the importance of making healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent diabetes from developing.

I understand how cost effective it is to change your lifestyle earlier, versus later, Scott added. Financially its a lot better and your life expectancy is greater.

Scott is one of 22 clients who are midway through the program. Temple is now accepting new program enrollees.

The more people we have enrolled, the better outcomes we will have and the more lives we affect and thats our goal at the Center for Population Health to affect as many lives as possible with this free program, said Ronnie Whyte, director, Population Health, Temple Center for Population Health.

She said the program is open to those diagnosed with prediabetes or have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of diabetes.

For information about enrolling call (215) 707-7247.

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Temple's diabetes prevention program has positive impact - The Philadelphia Tribune