Spring 2020 DPP Press Release

GemCare Wellness Free Diabetes Prevention Program beginning March 24^th in Hudson

Year-long CDC-approved program helping people reduce their chance of getting type 2 diabetes

Hudson, OHIO – March 2, 2020: GemCare Wellness (GCW), a national health coaching and disease management company, is offering its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for free to the public again this Spring.

For its third consecutive year, GemCare Wellness has participated in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program – a partnership of public and private organizations that are working to either prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

People diagnosed with prediabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels and are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within three years if no steps are taken to prevent it. The DPP program offers a proven approach to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through reasonable lifestyle changes with the support and guidance of a GemCare Wellness Registered Dietitian (RD).

Since GemCare Wellness started its DPP in 2018, participants have lost a total of 700.9 pounds, with some individuals even exceeding the program weight loss goal and losing as much as seven percent of their body weight. This translated to a 58 percent reduced risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Participants in the 2019 program alone have lost a combined total of 503 pounds.

“This program is so important for those diagnosed with prediabetes,” said Meredith D’Angelo, GemCare Wellness Registered Dietitian and Manager of Client Relations. “The classes provide support, accountability, and social interaction with others who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Our participants have transitioned from diets that are not sustainable to a more balanced, healthy approach all while lowering their A1C and losing weight. They’re trying new foods, sharing new recipes, and even bring food to class to share with others!”

Over the course of a year, RDs work with participants in a classroom setting to establish goals for healthy eating and increased physical activity. Classes cover a variety of health and wellness topics including meal planning, tips for eating healthy away from home, and ways to increase daily activity. Sixteen group classes are delivered in the first six months of the program, and six group classes are delivered in the last six months of the program.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity GemCare Wellness has given me to change my life for the better,” said Mary Ann Schwartz, a 2019 DPP participant. “This has been a very personable approach to better health. It has been great to be in a room with others who have the same goal in common, hear what they feel and experience, and have a friendly meeting of minds.”

To register for the FREE March 2020 Diabetes Prevention Class in Hudson, OH, please visit www.gemcarewellness.com/diabetes-prevention or call 1-800-294-9176. Classes begin Tuesday, March 24, 2020 from 6 – 7 PM at Barlow Community Center in Hudson, OH.