Nine Week Class Starts March 28 in Waupaca
A prediabetes program returns March 28 to help patients keep diabetes at bay. “Anyone with a diagnosis of prediabetes can attend,” said Anne Menzies, certified diabetes educator through the Health and Wellness Department at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca. “It is important because we don’t want prediabetes to develop into diabetes.”
The class is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program that was conducted at 27 health centers throughout the United States, said Menzies. “It was a great success,” she said. “Volunteers were followed for about three years and they found that losing 10 to 15 pounds and being moderately active for a minimum of 150 minutes per week cut the risk of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, so more than half. For those over the age of 60, it cut the risk by 71 percent, almost three quarters. We have put together a condensed version of the original class and teach our sessions for nine weeks.”
Menzies said this is the third time the program will be offered locally. “Past participants of this wonderful program have lost weight, changed eating habits, and gone on to continue their changes in lifestyle,” she said, noting topics include exercise, goal setting, recipe sharing, a cooking class, staying motivated and more. “We are focusing on weight loss because this helps with prediabetes.”
Classes meet from 5-6:30 p.m. once a week for nine weeks at the 900 Building at the hospital. The class begins with a 30 minute exercise session and is followed by a hour class taught by diabetes educators. Cost is $90 and those who complete the class get a free one month membership to Health and Fitness headquarters in Waupaca. Space is limited for the class so register soon! Register online or call ThedaCare Central Scheduling: Phone number: 920-738-6521 option 1.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 34 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. Construction of ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton is underway. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
