Stephen LeBeau, age 71, is physically active. He can often be found riding his bike or walking the trails. When his Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Primary Care Physician, Sami Ahmed, M.D., recommended he participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program, Stephen agreed right away.
Stephen had been paying attention to his health. He knew over the past five years his weight had been steadily increasing – a direction he didn’t like. He also knew his family history put him at risk for diabetes.
“Looking back over the last five years, my weight was going up and my BMI (a measure of body fat) was above 30 – that set off some alarm bells for me,” said Stephen. “I knew I needed to change course, so I looked into the class.”
The Diabetes Prevention Program is designed to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. A lifestyle coach helps participants understand lifestyle changes that can bring blood sugar (glucose) levels back to a healthy range.
“The class starts with meeting weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly,” said Stephen. “It’s a year-long class. This gives you a much longer exposure to the principles of the class and hopefully leads you to a point where you can continue on your own. I like this structure – it keeps you accountable.”
Lifestyle changes can be easier to make when your family and friends support you.
“My wife is supporting my new eating habits by shopping for better choices and planning our meals to meet my goals,” said Stephen. “So, we are changing our eating habits together. I understand the importance of watching the foods we eat and how they impact our health. Many of the current health problems we face can be tied to our eating habits.”
Stephen has four months remaining in his class. He has already seen results. Stephen said by cutting back on sweets, dairy and avoiding inflammatory foods, he lost 15 pounds over the past three months. He has also brought his glucose down to a healthy range; and lowered his cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
The Diabetes Prevention Program is offered in-person and virtually.
“I think the virtual option is great, but for me, being in the room, interacting with people, helps make me be more accountable,” said Stephen. “We show up every week, weigh-in and talk about our physical activities. Everybody is basically in the same boat. We all share ideas that might help others. I’ve already recommended the class to my family and friends. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey on to better health and wellness.”
If you would like to learn more about the Diabetes Prevention Program, contact DiabetesPrevention@trinity-health.org or visit Diabetes Prevention | Trinity Health Michigan.