HEALTHY LIVING:

Free diabates program at the Y helps participants get a handle on the disease

Barbara Watkins Obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, and Northeast Ohio is no exception.

Obesity can bring on a myriad of unwanted health problems and issues, and one of the most serious is diabetes.

The economic costs of untreated diabetes are staggering, but even more devastating are the health complications, which include blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, loss of limbs to amputation, and even death.

The Y is committed to helping communities and members understand and manage this condition through the Diabetes Education Program. Since 2008, the Greater Cleveland Y has worked in conjunction with the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland to conduct 10- week educational programs at various Ys in the Greater Cleveland Association.

The programs, which are free to members and non-members alike, feature weekly classes conducted by certified diabetes educators, licensed dieticians, and health and wellness professionals, and include sessions like Understanding Diabetes Effects on the Body, Pushing Through Barriers, and Nutrition – A Cornerstone of Better Health.

Barbara Watkins, 74, is a Silver Sneakers® member and a participant in the Diabetes Education Program at the Southeast Family YMCA. A Type-2 diabetic, Barbara admits that initially she didn’t take the condition as seriously as she should have.

“I was aware of how serious diabetes is, but at first I took it too lightly,” she said.

Barbara and the rest of the class got hands-on experience in key areas of diabetes education and management.

Participants accompanied the instructors to grocery stores and learned how to prepare healthy meals and snacks, completed individual wellness coaching sessions, kept weekly activity logs, and underwent weekly blood glucose monitoring.

Written pre- and post-program tests were administered to assess participants’ knowledge at the start of the program and at its completion.

Non-members who successfully completed the program received a free six-month membership to continue their path toward a healthier lifestyle.

For Barbara, the group setting was the key to taking diabetes seriously and learning to manage it.

“Going to the program with people who were dealing with the same thing and the same problems was very helpful,” Barbara explained. “It’s one thing to go through it by yourself – it’s not as encouraging as having the group setting and support.”

Barbara says one of the most interesting and informative aspects of the program was the guided field trip to the grocery store with staff members who helped participants navigate nutritional pitfalls of grocery shopping and meal preparation.

“I’m more conscious of the impact diet and exercise have on my condition,” she said. “I’ve learned that watching what you eat and making sure you exercise is the key.”

The lasting impact of the Diabetes Education Program is evident when Barbara talks about how she feels about the program.

“The program is a wonderful thing,” says Barbara. “So many of us don’t have the opportunity to do something like this and learn how to manage the condition.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn what you need to do to prevent amputation, blindness and other side effects of diabetes. And it’s a great opportunity for non-YMCA members to learn about the disease and then start with a membership."