Diabetes Prevention Program
18+ In-person, Virtual
Prevent Diabetes, Change the Course of your Health
If you have been recently diagnosed with prediabetes or have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, small, manageable adjustments to your daily routine can make all the difference.
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program gives you the tools, strategies, and community support you need to reduce your risk through food nutrition education and build a healthier way of life.
As part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), we deliver a proven, CDC-approved curriculum. The Y is the largest provider of this life-changing, in-person program in the United States—and we are ready to support you every step of the way.
Why Join the Diabetes Prevention Program?
Through our program, our YMCA Lifestyle Coaches help not only set achievable goals but also beat them. Through this program, you’ll learn:
Healthy Eating
Discover how to choose nutrient-dense, satisfying foods that keep your blood sugar steady without sacrificing flavor.
Physical Activity
Gradually build up to 150 minutes of weekly physical activity through movement you actually enjoy.
Lose Weight Safely
Aim for a modest 5% to 7% reduction in body weight—a proven milestone that slashes your type 2 diabetes risk.
Overcome Roadblocks
Learn how to manage daily stress, navigate social dining, and maintain your momentum for life.
Prevention is Possible
Studies show that adults who have a higher BMI (BMI ≥25) and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes can change the course of their health and prevent the disease.
Lifestyle changes such as getting regular physical activity, eating a variety of foods that are low in fat while maintaining an adequate calorie intake, and losing a modest amount of weight can cut diabetes risk and lead to a healthier way of life. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is proving to be a model that helps people achieve these changes.
The YMCA delivers a CDC-approved curriculum and is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). It is the largest in-person provider in the United States.
Diabetes and Prediabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a serious health condition that affects the pancreas. It is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and often leads to other medical conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and blindness. There is no cure for diabetes.
Prediabetes happens before type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
- 1-in-3 U.S. adults has prediabetes
- Prediabetes may show little or no symptoms
- Only 10% of people with prediabetes actually know they have it
Program Benefits
The good news is that prediabetes may be reversible, and type 2 diabetes may be preventable with simple lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight. The Y can help!
New Cohorts are launching at the beginning of this fall!
Pre-register now to join our waitlist, see if you qualify, and get early access to dates and schedules.
In-Person Cohorts
More information coming soon!
Zoom Online Cohorts
More information coming soon!
I will continue to live healthy and be a role model for my teenage children, and as they grow older I will share with them what I’ve learned from this program.
FAQS
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a one-year lifestyle modification program designed to help adults at risk for type 2 diabetes to reduce their risk and gain tools for healthy living. Participants meet in a private classroom setting with a small group (8-15 people) where they learn strategies for healthy eating, increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight to reduce risk for type 2 diabetes. The program is led by a trained Lifestyle Coach and delivers 25 one-hour sessions over the course of one year.
The program is designed to help participants make small lifestyle changes to improve health and reduce risk for type 2 diabetes. All participants in the program are working to:
- Gradually increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week
- Reduce total body weight by 7%
To qualify, participants must be 18 years or older, have a BMI > 25, and be at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, indicated by a confirmatory blood value†, a clinical diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes (GDM) during a previous pregnancy, or a qualifying risk score. Please complete our form to see if you qualify.
†Individuals who have already been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes do not qualify for this program.
Unfortunately, participants with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes do NOT qualify for this program. To learn about programs that provide support in diabetes management, please contact the Program Coordinator.
In some cases, your employer or insurance provider may partially or fully cover the cost. Contact your employer directly to confirm. To determine insurance coverage options, contact the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance directly at 1-800-237-4942.
Yes! All Program Participants are eligible to receive 4 months of YMCA membership at no cost. That’s (up to) a $320 value, depending on the type of membership you have. A YMCA membership is not required to participate in the Program.
No. The program takes place in a private classroom setting and is discussion-based. But you will discuss strategies to increase your level of physical activity and stay safe while you’re active. To learn a little more about the topics you will discuss, review the Program Overview and 16 Weekly Session Topics.
Your Lifestyle Coach will guide conversations about healthy eating and help you focus on specific areas of your nutrition to achieve the 7% weight-loss goal. To learn a little more about the topics you will discuss, review the Program Overview and 16 Weekly Session Topics.
Yes. At the beginning of each meeting, your Lifestyle Coach will weigh you and all other participants individually and privately. This information remains confidential. Your Lifestyle Coach will never share your weight with the group or anyone else.
Your small group consists of 8-15 people. Classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
Make-up sessions may be available. If you must miss a session, please communicate with your Lifestyle Coach in advance; they will discuss with you the steps to make up the session. If you plan to miss 4 or more sessions, please contact the Program Coordinator before enrolling.
Yes, you may enroll up until the 4th session. If the 4th session has already occurred, please check the start date of the next session.
Research by the National Institutes of Health has shown that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can reduce the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58% and by 71% in individuals over age 60.
