Belleville, NJ – Enrollment is now open at Clara Maass Medical Center for a program to help the community to succeed in delaying or preventing diabetes through simple lifestyle changes.
Adopted from a new, research-based diabetes prevention program created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the free program will offer 16 sessions over the course of the year. Patients can enroll in the program at no cost, either by a referral from their physician or after completing a CDC screening test.
Prediabetes means that blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not at the level to qualify for diabetes. Left unchecked, it will likely develop into actual diabetes. Those with diabetes are also at higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
Throughout the program, participants will meet with a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified diabetes educator who will share all of the insight, skills and strategies needed to lose and maintain a healthy weight, with the added benefit of preventing diabetes. A 5 to 7 percent weight loss can be effective in preventing diabetes.
About 90 percent of all people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it. Those at the greatest risk for prediabetes fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Are overweight
- Age 45 years or older
- Have a parent or sibling with Type 2 Diabetes
- Are physically active fewer than three times each week
- Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or have given birth to a baby who weighed more than nine pounds
- Are African American, Hispanic, Latino American, American Indian or Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
For more information regarding the free Diabetes Prevention Program at Clara Maass, contact Dorothy Szast, RD, CDE, Diabetes Education Coordinator at 973-450-2126.
To learn more about ways to prevent and control diabetes, visit rwjbh.org/claramaass.
About Clara Maass Medical Center
Located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass recently completed state-of-the-art campus expansion project featuring a new four-story 87,000 square foot building with a private, 32-bed Intensive Care Unit, new Main Entrance and Lobby, Retail Pharmacy, Patient Registration Area and designated new space to accommodate our future Emergency Department expansion. Clara Maass’ services include: The Cancer Center, Center for Breast Health and Disease Management, Radiation Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Cardiac Services Elective and Emergency Angioplasty and Cardiac Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Joint & Spine Institute, a Vascular Lab, The Vein Center, The Wound Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders, The Bariatric Surgery Center, Rehabilitation; Therapy Services which includes, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, The Eye Surgery Center, Maternity Services and Parent Education, Pediatrics, Center of Excellence for Latino Health, and the Health and Wellness Center. Clara Maass has been recognized with eleven Grade ‘A’ scores for patient safety and quality by The Leapfrog Group. It is listed by the American Hospital Association as one of Healthcare’s Most Wired hospitals. In 2016-17 Clara Maass has received the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. Clara Maass received Disease Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Congestive Heart Failure, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Advanced Certification in Palliative Care. Clara Maass earned Clara Maass’ steadfast commitment to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves is exemplified through award winning programs including the nationally recognized HELP Volunteer program, recipient of the American Hospital Association 2017 HAVE Award, and the Wellness Assessment Van for Elders (WAVE) which was recognized as the New Jersey Hospital Association’s 2017 HRET Community Outreach Award. For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.