Diabetes prevention program offered on the Kenai

March 28, 2018

A free yearlong diabetes prevention program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin in May on the Kenai Peninsula.

Trained lifestyle coaches will offer the PreventT2 program as part of a CDC pilot project aimed at preventing diabetes in rural areas. Participants will meet weekly with a coach by phone for the first six months and once or twice a month the following six months. To be eligible for the program, individuals must be considered prediabetic.

Leslie Shallcross, a registered dietitian who offers the program for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, said it has been successful at preventing or delaying Type 2 diabetes. She said the program helps individuals learn methods to lose weight, become more physically active and reduce stress. She notes that one-third of adult Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing diabetes.

Participants will receive a free digital bathroom scale. For more information about signing up, contact Shallcross at 907-474-2426 or lashallcross@alaska.edu.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Debbie Carter, 907-474-5406, dscarter@alaska.edu