Free Diabetes Prevention Program Offered by YMCAs of Tampa Bay

The YMCAs of Tampa Bay are offering Medicare participants free access to the Diabetes Prevention Program.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a 12-month lifestyle modification program proven to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes for those at risk. Qualified Medicare participants can partake in the YMCAs of Tampa Bay’s evidence-based, CDC-approved program at no cost to them.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is offered both in-person and virtually at YMCAs across Tampa Bay. A trained lifestyle coach provides a supportive environment where participants learn how to incorporate healthy eating, physical activity and behavior modification into their daily lives. Proven results show the program can prevent or delay new cases of Type 2 diabetes in adults by 58% and by as much as 71% in those over age 60.

According to the CDC, more than one in three Americans – 88 million people – has prediabetes, a condition in which a person’s blood glucose is elevated, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Only 7% of those with prediabetes know they have it, but awareness and simple actions may prevent the onset of diabetes, a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and nerve disease.

“Committed to improving the health and well-being of Tampa Bay, the Y wants all community members to understand their risk for prediabetes and steps to take to avoid developing Type 2 diabetes,” said Dawn Kita, the healthy living director at the Tampa Metropolitan Area Y in a statement. “Developing Type 2 diabetes not only puts a tremendous strain on our healthcare system, but impacts the lives of millions of people and their families each year.”

Many insurance providers, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Florida Blue and United Healthcare offer this program as a covered benefit for anyone who has been diagnosed as having prediabetes or who is at a high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. For participants to qualify, Medicare recipients must have an A1C between 5.7-6.4 or a fasting glucose of 110-125. Financial assistance and payment plans are offered for other qualifying individuals based on household income.

Learn more about the Diabetes Prevention Program.