Hospital offers diabetes prevention program

Memorial Hospital of Chester is ready to help you prevent diabetes with a new, free program starting July 31.

Through the program, you can lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 58 percent - 71 percent if you're over age 60.

The group meets once a week for four months, twice a month for two months and once a month for six months. Highlights include working with a trained coach to make realistic, lasting lifestyle changes; learning the difference between fad diets and gimmicky research and adding more physical activity into your day; finding out how to manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can slow your progress; getting support from people with similar goals and challenges; and discovering how small changes help solve problems over time.

You can have pre-diabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems show up. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for pre-diabetes, which include being overweight, being 45 years or older. having a parent, brother, or sister with Type 2 diabetes, bring physically active less than 3 times a week, ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.

To learn more about the program, call (618) 826-4581, extension 1170 or visit www.mhchester.com.