November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a good time for people to gauge their risk for prediabetes and diabetes and to talk to their doctors. Of the 86 million people with prediabetes, only 10 percent know their condition. In addition to the high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, people with prediabetes are also at risk of developing other chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

Prediabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood glucose is elevated, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. To address this issue, the Boothbay Region YMCA, Central Lincoln County YMCA and LincolnHealth are collaborating to offer the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, which helps adults lose weight through healthier eating and increased physical activity. The first classes in Lincoln County will start in January 2017.

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes in Maine tripled between 1995 and 2010. Rising diabetes rates cost the nation $245 billion annually for a disease that is preventable with simple lifestyle changes like eating better and getting more physical activity.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a yearlong group-based lifestyle intervention for adults at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and has been shown to reduce the number of new cases of diabetes by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60. Long-term program goals include reducing participants’ body weight by 7 percent and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week.

Individuals can assess their risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by taking a simple test at YMCA.net/diabetes. Through this assessment, visitors can also learn how lifestyle choices and family history help determine the ultimate risk for developing the disease. Several factors that could put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes include race, age, weight and activity level. If a person is at risk, a diabetes screening conducted by a physician can confirm a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.

For more information about the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, or to find out if you are eligible to participate, contact Casey Clark Kelly at cclarkelley@clcymca.org or 207-350-7026, or visit www.boothbayregionymca.org.