Live Well Longer
The YMCA's evidence-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) helps adults at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and losing a modest amount of weight to reduce their chances of developing the disease.
The Diabetes Prevention Program at the YMCA of Greater Seattle has received a Full Plus Recognition status from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This full recognition status – an A+ grade indicates that our program exceeds standards set by the CDC to effectively deliver this program to people with prediabetes or at risk for diabetes.
Learn Your Risk
88 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes, but only 10% are aware! Take this 60 second online quiz from the Center for Disease Control and American Diabetes Association to help you assess your risk level.
Take the Quiz.
What Can You Expect?
The Y's Diabetes Prevention Program is designed to help participants adopt and maintain positive lifestyle changes. Participants in the program can expect the following:
A Year-Long Commitment
This Y's DPP program lasts one year and has 25 sessions. Attending every session is crucial to success and to achieving your long-term program goals.
Food Tracking
Tracking food intake can help you to eat smaller portions, reduce fat intake, and modify eating habits long-term. These changes have been proven to help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Getting More Active
Many studies have shown that moderate physical activity (walking, swimming, bicycling) for 30 minutes, five days a week, can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Group Support
Our trained Lifestyle Coaches facilitate the ongoing sessions, in which a small, supportive group of participants meet to encourage each other to stay motivated and maintain progress.
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This program has made a huge difference in my life. My blood pressure and cholesterol are back down where they are supposed to be. I have more energy. I want to do everything I can to stay on track and to keep myself motivated.
— Marilyn N.
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What Outcomes Will You Achieve?
Small lifestyle changes make a big difference in reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes. The Y's Diabetes Prevention Program promotes the following outcomes:
Healthier Eating Habits
The focus is reducing total dietary fat intake, not eliminating carbohydrates while modeling the MyPlate method.
Increased Physical Activity
Participants will be encouraged to increase their activity to 150 minutes per week through moderate and sustainable exercise.
Reduced Body Weight
Our first two outcomes, eating healthier and moving more, will naturally contribute to a modest reduction in body weight.
Upcoming Information Sessions and Programs
Join us for a free information session to learn more about the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program.
- Wednesday, July 2 | 5:00–6:00 pm | Register here >>
Fill out our Get Started Now form to add your name to our interest list for upcoming programs listed below, or schedule a call today to learn more.
- Starts July 15 | Tuesdays at 5:30 pm | Virtual
- Starts August 13 | Wednesdays at 12:00 pm | Virtual
- Starts August 19 | Tuesdays at 5:00 pm | Virtual
- Starts September 22 | Mondays at 5:30 pm | Virtual
- Starts October 2 | Thursdays at 10:00 am | Virtual | GLP-1 Users (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, etc.)
- Starts October 6 | Mondays at 10:00 am | Kent YMCA
- Starts November 3 | Mondays at 5:30 pm | Virtual
Eligibility
To qualify for the program, you must be at least 18 years old, with a BMI > 25 (BMI > 23 for Asian individuals), and at high risk for one of the following:
- Developing type 2 diabetes indicated by a confirmatory blood value,*
- Prediabetes is determined by clinical diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes (GDM) during a previous pregnancy, or
- A qualifying risk score (see The American Diabetes Association online quiz.)
Individuals who have already been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes do not qualify for this program.
*A confirmatory blood value means having a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year. A prediabetes range is any of the following:
- Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7–6.4%
- Fasting plasma glucose: 100–125 mg/dL
- Two-hour plasma glucose (after a 75 gm glucose load): 140–199 mg/dL
Cost and Insurance
All Medicare and Medicaid plans typically cover the full cost of our program for eligible participants with no co-pays required. If you have questions about insurance, please let us know via our contact form below.
For anyone not covered by Medicare, we offer sliding-scale access to our diabetes prevention program based on ability to pay. If you are ready to make lifestyle changes, we will ensure cost is not a barrier to starting.
Reimbursement for the Y's Diabetes Prevention Program may be possible through your Health Savings account or Flexible Spending Account. Please read the answers to frequently asked questions here to learn more.
Diabetes Prevention Program for GLP-1 Users
The YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program has long supported adults who are seeking to make lasting lifestyle changes at any stage of their wellness journey!
According to the British Medical Journal, the number of patients in the US prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1s)* like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for weight loss has risen from around 21,000 in 2019 to over 174,000 in 2023—a rise of more than 700%.
While GLP-1s may offer pharmaceutical support for those seeking weight loss, the FDA approval indicates that these medications should always be prescribed in conjunction with a lower-calorie diet and increased physical activity (components of lifestyle change!), which is often the most challenging part of maintaining weight loss.
While we know lifestyle change is a key long-term success indicator for GLP-1 users, supportive programming can be difficult to find. This Diabetes Prevention Program for GLP-1 Users has been specially designed to help those who are taking GLP-1s create Lifestyle Changes to support their long-term health and wellness journeys.
This program brings people together to create support and accountability to meet their lifestyle change goals. There will not be any clinical or pharmaceutical guidance provided as part of this program. Participants should consult with their primary care physician for any medical questions.
*Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are a class of medications that have been shown to improve blood sugar control and drive weight loss.
MORE WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE Y
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