LOCAL
LIFESTYLE
COACH
OFFERS
PROGRAM
TO LOWER
DIABETES
RISKS
Blue Mountain Hospital’s
registered dietitian Kim Jacobs
is also a lifestyle coach, helping
people learn healthy habits with
the Prevent T2 diabetes program.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Participants learn new skills, healthy habits
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
T
he National Diabetes Prevention
Program called Prevent T2 (type
2 diabetes), led by lifestyle coach
Kim Jacobs, is in full swing at Blue
Mountain Hospital in John Day.
Jacobs said Prevent T2, recognized by
the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, is creating positive changes for
people, teaching a healthier lifestyle.
“With this program, you’ll learn,
laugh and share stories,” said Jacobs,
who is also a registered dietitian and cer-
tified diabetes educator at the hospital.
Participants also try new things, over-
come obstacles and build new habits while
lowering their risk of developing Type 2
diabetes. They learn how to eat well, get
active, shop, cook, manage stress, stay
motivated and more, Jacobs said.
10 || Family Health Guide 2017
The year-long class starts out with
weekly meetings for four months, pro-
gressing to monthly gatherings. The cur-
rent class began in October 2016, and
another class will begin when there are
enough referrals.
Jacobs said she teaches the group how
to adapt to a healthy lifestyle, lowering
risks associated with diabetes including
blindness, kidney failure, heart disease,
stroke and loss of toes, feet or legs.
“It’s not a diet, but learning how to
live a healthy life — how to eat healthy,
how to be physically active,” she said.
“I truly believe this year-long program
helps change people’s lives.”
She said, without weight loss and
moderate physical activity, 15 to 30 per-
cent of people with prediabetes will de-
velop Type 2 diabetes within five years.
Prediabetes means a person’s blood
glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but
not yet diabetes.
“If you do discover that you have a
diagnosis of prediabetes, participating in
programs such as Prevent T2 may help
you cut your risk of developing type 2
diabetes in half,” Jacobs said.
And that’s the good news.
Research shows doing two things can
help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes:
losing 5 to 7 percent body weight and
getting at least 150 minutes each week of
moderate-intensity physical activity, such
as brisk walking.
“A year might sound like a long com-
mitment, but learning new habits, gaining
new skills and building confidence takes
time,” Jacobs said. “As a lifestyle coach,
I will help you set and meet goals and
keep you motivated.”
For more information, call Jacobs
at Blue Mountain Hospital at 541-575-
1311.