ROCHESTER, NY, 2014-11-11— /EPR Retail News/ — November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, and three powerful community organizations have partnered in prevention. The YMCA of Greater Rochester, Wegmans Pharmacy and the American Diabetes Association will host three events to provide community members with health education about diabetes, including screenings for blood glucose, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurement, and blood pressure. These screenings and other indicators are used to determine if an individual is at risk for developing diabetes. The screenings are free of charge and are open to the entire Greater Rochester community.
Diabetes is a serious health condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure and blindness. The number of type 2 diabetes cases continues to grow, fueled in part by a continued rise in the rate of obesity. Unhealthy eating habits and declines in physical activity continue to contribute to the rise in new diabetes cases.
“An estimated one in three adults in the United States has prediabetes, yet only 11 percent know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Kelly Mueller, director of programs for the American Diabetes Association. “Prediabetes is a potentially reversible condition; however, it often leads to type 2 diabetes if not detected and prevented. New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 86 million people in the U.S. have prediabetes, up from 79 million people in 2010. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.”
The health screening locations and times are:
Thursday, Nov. 13, 8-11 a.m.
Northwest Family YMCA (in Teen Center)
730 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14612
Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Maplewood Family YMCA (in library and lobby)
25 Driving Park Ave., Rochester, NY 14613
Monday, Nov. 17, 4-7 p.m.
Eastside Family YMCA (in Lobby)
1835 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, Penfield, NY 14526
Each event will be staffed with Wegmans pharmacists and YMCA wellness coaches. RSVPs and health insurance information are not required.
“Healthy living is a key area of focus for the YMCA, so we are thrilled to partner on this initiative with two other organizations that are concerned about our community’s health — Wegmans and the American Diabetes Association,” said Laura Fasano, vice president of healthy living at the YMCA of Greater Rochester. “At these screenings, if people learn that they are at risk, expert Wegmans pharmacists will be on hand to answer any questions, and individuals will have the opportunity to enroll in the Y’s Diabetes Prevention Program and join the Y with no joining fee. It’s never too early or too late to improve your health.”
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program uses a CDC-approved curriculum and is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program. It is a yearlong program consisting of 16 one-hour weekly classroom sessions followed by eight one-hour monthly sessions. A trained lifestyle coach helps participants learn tactics for healthy eating, physical activity and other lifestyle changes. The program resulted from a study by the National Institutes of Health, which showed how healthier eating, increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight could lead to better health in participants and an overall reduction of new type 2 diabetes cases. Programs like the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program have been shown to prevent or delay new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent and as much as 71 percent in adults over the age of 60.
For more information on the diabetes community events, visit rochesterymca.org/diabetesprevention or contact Theresa Wing, RD, director of community health initiatives of the YMCA of Greater Rochester, at 585-341-4018 or theresa.wing@rochesterymca.org.
YMCA of Greater Rochester
The YMCA of Greater Rochester is one of the area’s leading nonprofits, committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for 160 years. As a dedicated association of staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and allies, the Y is steadfast in its mission to build healthy, confident, connected, and secure children, adults, families, and communities throughout the greater Rochester area. The YMCA of Greater Rochester serves more than 128,000 men, women, and children annually regardless of age, income, or background through health and fitness memberships, wellness programs, child care services, camps, youth sports, and aquatics instruction. To find out more about how to join or support your local Y, visit rochesterymca.org.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is an 85-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 16 consecutive years. In 2014, Wegmans ranked #12 on the list.
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
For more information please call the American Diabetes Association nationally at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383), locally at 585-458-3040 or visit www.diabetes.org.
Contact Information:
Ryann Bouchard, Dixon Schwabl on behalf of the YMCA of Greater Rochester, 585-899-3243
Jo Natale, Wegmans’ director of media relations, 585-429-3627
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