ASHLAND, Ky. — You can prevent type 2 diabetes, and King’s Daughters Medical Center can show you how.

Join KDMC’s lifestyle change coach Kim Bayes, RN, BSN, to learn how to eat healthier, lose weight and safely increase physical activity.

Presented through U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, classes will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the hospital’s Outpatient Therapy Center, 480 23rd St. Though a physician referral is not required, participants must be 18 or older and meet criteria.

Diagnosis of prediabetes based on one or more of the following:

• Fasting blood glucose (range 100-125 mg/dl)

• 2-hour glucose (range 140-199 mg/dl)

• HbA1c (range 5.7-6.4%)

• Previous gestational diabetes (GDM)

• Paper risk test

Registration is required by calling 606-408-1560.

“The focus of this program is to prevent people from developing diabetes,” Bayes said. As a result, it is not open to those who have been diagnosed or are being treated for diabetes.”

King’s Daughters began offering the program in the region June 2013. More than 75 people have participated in the program. A lifestyle coach meets with participants in small groups over the course of 16 weeks. After the initial sessions are complete, the group meets monthly for another six to eight sessions to support and sustain changes members have made.

“One out of three adults has prediabetes and doesn’t know it,” said Bayes. “This program is designed to help those people who are at risk of developing the disease make lifestyle changes that research has shown to be effective in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.”

Kentucky Employee Health Plan members who qualify can participate in the NDPP at no cost.

At this time no other insurance companies offer this program free of charge. The cost of the program is $199 for the 12 month program. Cost includes 16 weekly group sessions with lifestyle change coach; access to exercise physiologist to develop personalized exercise program; feedback weekly from lifestyle change coach on food and activity tracker; and access to one-on-one visit with behavioral therapist and lifestyle change coach as needed.

King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Diabetes Prevention Program is made possible in part through funding provided by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

KDMC is a locally controlled, not-for-profit, 465-bed regional referral center, offering comprehensive cardiac, vascular, medical, surgical, maternity, pediatric, rehabilitative, psychiatric, cancer, neurological, pain care, wound care and home care services. For additional information, visit us online at kdmc.com or call 1-888-377-KDMC (5362).