Though diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in America, the South Coast YMCAs are here to remind the community that it is highly preventable.

On Friday, March 18, Dartmouth’s YMCA held an informational “session zero” seminar about diabetes. The hour-long session was geared towards people classified as “prediabetic,” which is having a predisposition towards diabetes due to dietary habits, lifestyle or genetics. About 86 million Americans are prediabetic but only 11 to 12 percent are aware of it.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease in which blood sugar levels are elevated over a long period of time. Type 2 diabetics are unable to produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels at a normal range, which can lead to cardiovascular complications, eye problems and kidney disease.

The main causes of type 2 diabetes are obesity and an unhealthy diet. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are 29.1 million people living with diabetes in America.

According to data from the National Institutes of Health, reducing body weight and increasing physical activity can help an individual under the age of 60 reduce a type 2 diabetes diagnosis by 58 percent. For someone over 60, the reduction rate is 71 percent.

The seminar was led by Diabetes lifestyle coach Sy Yules, who is currently working with another group of prediabetics working to transform their lifestyle.

“I have seen this program work,” Yules said. “People who follow the program get results.”

The two overarching goals of the program, which was developed by the CDC, are to reduce body weight by seven percent in the first sixteen weeks and to increase physical activity by 150 minutes per week. According to Yules, every 2.2 pounds loss results in a 13 percent decrease in diabetes risk.

“It doesn’t take a lot to have an impact on risk reduction,” said Yules.

The first six weeks of the prevention program are focused solely on diet. The group will participate in weekly weigh-ins and cover topics such as how to make better food choices, how to read food labels and how to order food at a restaurant. Attendees can also give tips and ideas for staying on track. After the first 16 weeks, the program shifts so that meetings are every two weeks before becoming monthly.

Yules emphasized that the class is not a dieting program. “It’s a lifestyle change that are going to have long term changes,” he said.

One of the biggest issues Yules sees in people looking to reduce their weight is “overcomplicating” the process.

“People overcomplicate things even though it’s eat less or work more,” Yules said.

There are 3,500 calories in a pound and to decrease one’s weight, he or she must either decrease their caloric intake or increase physical activity.

“Hopefully, after a year, you’re happy and healthy and you don’t need us anymore,” Yules said.

The year-long diabetes prevention program costs $429, which includes a membership to YMCA Southcoast. For those interested in learning more, contact the Dartmouth YMCA at 508-996-9622. The diabetes prevention program is being held at the Gleason Family YMCA in Wareham beginning on March 28; at the New Bedford YMCA on March 30; and at the Fall River YMCA on March 31.