Many people are looking to change their lives but they aren’t sure where to start. Thankfully there is a lifestyle change program that can help individuals, providers, and employers alike. The program is called Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. (CYL²), and it is covered by many insurance companies, including Medicare.

CYL2 is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) and was developed using findings from a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study found that lifestyle changes resulting in modest weight loss sharply reduced the development of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease.

Information for Healthcare Professionals

According to national statistics, likely one-third of your patients older thanage 18 have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. More than eight in 10 of those individuals do not know their risk.

You can refer your at-risk patients to a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program that is proven by research to cut their risk of type 2 diabetes by more than half. Participating in this program will encourage weight loss and other healthy changes to your patients’ lifestyles, lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.

Following the “M.A.P. to Diabetes Prevention for Your Practice” guide can help your practice achieve Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition, as well as meaningful use of your electronic medical record. It supports PCMH recognition via Standard 4: Self-Care Support, B. Provide Referrals to Community Resources.

Referring patients to a CDC recognized lifestyle change program helps reinforce the important advice that you give them during their visits. Because CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs use a research-based curriculum and trained coaches, you can trust that your patients are receiving evidence-based information about weight loss, diet, exercise, and other important lifestyle changes. Once they’ve enrolled in the program, you may even find that their increased knowledge saves you time during office visits.

Classes start soon. Contact Martine Rocker at (334) 293-6502 for more information about the referral process.

Employers and Insurers

More than 37 million American adults have diabetes, and another 96 million have prediabetes. These are growing concerns for America’s workforce, affecting the health and quality of life of millions of U.S. adults. These diseases also cost employers and insurers billions of dollars each year in lost productivity
and medical expenses.

CDC-recognized diabetes prevention lifestyle change programs, a key element of the National DPP, can cut a person’s risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half and reduce the serious conditions associated with prediabetes. Here you will find information on how you can join the national effort to prevent type 2 diabetes and save money on your health costs at the same time. Contact Martine Rocker at (334) 293-6502 for more information.

Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) expanded model is a structured intervention with the goal of preventing type 2 diabetes in individuals with an indication of prediabetes. The clinical intervention consists of a minimum of 16 intensive “core” sessions over six months in a group-based, classroom-style setting that provides practical training in long-term dietary change, increased physical activity, and behavior change strategies for weight control.

After completing the core sessions, less intensive follow-up meetings, furnished monthly, help ensure that the participants maintain healthy behaviors. The primary goal of the expanded model is at least 5 percent weight loss by participants.

Individuals Can Take the First Step on Their Own

In just one minute, anyone can begin a journey that will change their life. Interested parties should visit bit.ly/CYL2TWC to take a short quiz and find out if this program is right for them.