Baptist Medical Group’s Diabetes Prevention Program recently celebrated a milestone with its 50th group of students starting classes. The goal of the free online yearlong lifestyle change program is to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes by helping participants with prediabetes lose 5 to 7% of their body weight and maintain at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
Individuals taking part in the Diabetes Prevention Program work with a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills needed to make lasting changes, including eating healthy, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, overcoming obstacles and staying motivated.
“We want to continue to grow the program, and we encourage health care providers to place referrals for patients who qualify,” said Ann Lawson Hobart, manager of Diabetes Education at Baptist Medical Group Outpatient Care Center in Germantown, Tennessee.
Each group participates in online classes that meet weekly for two months, biweekly for four months and monthly for six months. Adults with prediabetes (A1C of 5.7 – 6.4, BMI of 25 or more, and at least 18 years old) qualify for the program and may participate in the hour-long classes, conducted via Zoom. Individuals wishing to participate without meeting the A1C and BMI qualifications may fill out a risk assessment questionnaire to potentially qualify.
Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, many individuals with prediabetes can develop Type 2 diabetes within five years. Achieving the weight loss and physical activity goals of the program can cut the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in half.
The program offered by Baptist Medical Group follows the curriculum developed by the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To place a referral for the Diabetes Prevention Program, health care providers may call 901-701-5538. The ordering code in Epic for a referral to the program is REF 150-AMB.
Baptist Medical Group Outpatient Care Center also offers medical nutrition therapy for prediabetes management, as well as weight loss management and support for other conditions.
Please note: Baptist team members who do not meet the qualifications for the Diabetes Prevention Program from Baptist Medical Group can still work to prevent diabetes with the BestHealth Dietary Lifestyle Management Program or manage existing diabetes with the BestHealth Diabetes Management Program. For more information, contact the BestHealth Wellbeing department at BestHealth@bmhcc.org or 901-227-2378(BEST).
