Module 1: Introduction to the Program Participant Guide

Session Focus

• The program’s goals and structure

• The basics of type 2 diabetes

• How to make your first action plan

• Setting your 6-month goals

Program Handouts

Program Overview

Prediabetes

Prediabetes means that your blood sugar is higher than normal. But it’s not high enough for type 2 diabetes.

  • More than 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes.

  • Nine out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.

If you have prediabetes, you are more likely to

  • Get diabetes

  • Get heart disease

  • Experience a stroke

The good news is that losing weight and being active can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.

Prevent T2 Goals

PreventT2 is a yearlong program. It’s designed for people with prediabetes. It’s also for people who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and want to lower their risk.

 

postpartum wellness program Goals

By the end of the first 6 months, PreventT2 program goals are to:

  • Lose at least 5 percent of your starting weight

  • Lose at least 4 percent of your starting weight and log an average of 150 minutes of activity each week

  • Lower your HbA1C by 0.2 percent

By the end of the second 6 months, program goals are to:

  • Keep off the weight you’ve lost

  • Keep working toward your weight or HbA1C goals, if you haven’t reached them

  • Lose more weight if you wish, but no more than 1 to 2 pounds a week

  • Keep getting at least 150 minutes of activity each week

Losing weight can:

  • Prevent or delay type 2 diabetes

  • Ease sleep problems, arthritis, and depression

  • Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol level

  • Make you feel better about yourself

Getting more active can:

  • Prevent or delay type 2 diabetes

  • Give you more energy

  • Help you sleep better

  • Improve your memory, balance, and flexibility

  • Lift your mood

  • Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol

  • Lower your risk of heart attack and stroke

  • Lower your stress level;

  • Strengthen your muscles and bones

All About A1C: You can learn more about HbA1C by visiting the CDC’s All About Your A1C web page. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/prediabetes-a1c-test.html

Alina’s Story

Alina Nguyen was not expecting to hear from her doctor that she had gestational diabetes in pregnancy. She felt scared. However, when she learned that she could join a program to help her take charge of her health and lower her risk of type 2 diabetes, she was relieved. That relief quickly faded as she began to feel overwhelmed thinking about the changes she would have to make. How would she find time to exercise with a new baby? How could she afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables making minimum wage? How would she be able to eat and fit in at family gatherings if she must eat differently? These efforts seemed almost impossible.

After joining the program, she began to see that there were in fact changes she could make to her lifestyle that she could stick to and were realistic. Alina learned that adopting small, positive changes in her day-to-day life was achievable, and that although the larger goal can seem far-off at times, taking small steps keeps her on the right path.

For example, because of Alina’s busy schedule, she continues to make small steps in physical activity to reach her goal. At first, she began with 15 minutes of walking outside with her baby everyday. Now, she uses a jogging stroller during those 15 minutes and does 1 set of push-ups in the evening. She also learned that using canned and frozen vegetables in her meals is a step she can afford.

Finally, Alina learned to adapt her eating patterns at family gatherings so she can still enjoy the foods she loves and participate with family. For her, smaller meals have led to big results! As Alina began to see her success, her motivation and confidence climbed, and she knew she could stay in it for the long haul.

Program Structure

Program Handouts:

  • Action Plan Journal

  • Program Meeting Schedule

To Learn More:

Before each session, you will meet with your coach to provide your current weight and discuss any questions or needs you have. Starting in a couple of weeks, you’ll also share your Activity Log with your coach. This log will help you track your total minutes of activity for each week. Your coach will keep a record of your weight and activity minutes, and so will you. This will track your progress.

During group time, we’ll talk about how to:

  • Eat well

  • Be active

  • Change your lifestyle

It can be challenging to change your lifestyle. But we’ll work through those challenges together. You’ll also have the chance to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences—but only if you want to.

Personal Success Tool (PST) Modules

The Personal Success Tool (PST) modules are on the National Diabetes Prevention Program website. These modules are interactive motivational tools to help you keep what you’ve learned fresh in your mind. They will also help you to apply what you’ve learned in your daily life, bringing your changes and your progress into reality.

These modules are fun and include videos, quizzes, games, and other resources that will help you along your journey. You can complete the modules on a computer, smartphone, tablet, or any other devices with internet access. After completing some of your sessions, you will be encouraged to complete a module to help you build on what you have learned.

You can review the Personal Success Tool - Participant Overview handout for more information.

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention/media/pdfs/legacy/PST_ParticipantOverview_508.pdf

Basics of Type 2 Diabetes

When you eat, your body breaks down food into glucose, a type of sugar. In people without type 2 diabetes, a hormone called insulin helps sugar leave the blood and enter the cells. This gives the cells energy. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t make or use insulin well. So, sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells. And the cells don’t get enough energy.

Type 2 diabetes can harm your:

  • Heart and blood vessels, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes

  • Nerves

  • Kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure

  • Eyes, which can lead to blindness

  • Feet, which can lead to amputation

  • Gums

  • Skin

You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you:

  • Are too heavy (overweight or obese)

  • Spend a lot of time sitting or lying down

  • Have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes

  • Are African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American

  • Are 45 or older. This may be because people tend to be less active and gain weight as they age. But type 2 diabetes is also on the rise among young people.

  • Had diabetes while you were pregnant (gestational diabetes)

Your 6-Month Goals

Here are my personal goals for the PreventT2 program:

Activity Goal: In the next 6 months, I will get at least 150 minutes of activity each week at a medium or moderate pace or more.

Weight Goal: I weigh ______ pounds. In the next 6 months, I will: Lose at least ______ (4/5/6/7) percent of my body weight / Lose at least ______ pounds / Reach ______ pounds

Weight Loss by the Numbers

One goal of this program is to lose at least 4 to 5 percent of your starting weight in the next 6 months. For instance, if you weighed 200 pounds, you would lose 8 to 10 pounds. The chart on the next two pages shows how many pounds you need to lose in order to reach your goal. To use the chart:

  1. Place your finger at the top of the blue column that says “Wt.” This stands for your starting weight. Move your finger down until you find the number of pounds you weigh now.

  2. Move your finger to the right. Stop when you reach the column that shows what percentage (4%, 5%, 6%, or 7%) of your starting weight you want to lose.

  3. Look at the number in the white box your finger is pointing to. That’s the number of pounds you need to lose in order to reach your goal.

Many women struggle with poor body image, especially after childbirth. If weighing yourself is upsetting, be kind to yourself. You just created a brand new life, and it’s normal for your body to change during pregnancy. If you feel that your thoughts about food and/or your body are interfering with your daily life, talk with your health care provider so that you can get additional help.

Plan for Success

Commit to Change Module and Personalized Pledge

This “Commit to Change” module highlights today’s concepts and has testimonial videos and information about the program’s ability to help you succeed. It ends with a pledge that you can create with your own personal goals and then sign and print.

Source: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/programs/preventt2/quiz.html?week=1

Personalized Pledge

Source: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/programs/preventt2/pledge.html?pledge=1