To mark the American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day, YMCA Southcoast is spreading the word about risk factors and programs it offers to prevent diabetes from becoming a problem.

YMCA branches along the South Coast offer programs aimed at those with prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk of developing type two diabetes, heart disease and stroke, according to a YMCA press release.

Several factors including family history, age, weight and physical activity level can contribute to developing type 2 diabetes. Visit ymca.net/diabetes to learn more.

For those at risk, the YMCA offers programs to help people make necessary lifestyle changes to prevent the disease. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, facilitated by a tarined lifestyle coach, provides a yearlong supportive environment where participants work together in a small group to learn about behavior changes that can improve overall health.

The goal of the program is to help adults at risk for diabetes reduce their body weight by 5 to 7 percent and increase their physical activity to 150 minutes per week.

Studies have shown that programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program can prevent or delay new cases of type 2 diabetes in adults by 58 percent and by as much as 71 percent in those over age 60, according to a YMCA press release.

To learn more about the YMCA Southcoast Diabetes Prevention Program, contact Dara Midwood, Program Coordinator at (508) 996-9622 ext. 141 or email dmidwood@ymcasouthcoast.org