Nearly one out of three adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That’s why the YMCA is unrolling a national intervention program, and the First Coast will be one of the first places to receive it.

“Once you get diabetes, you never get rid of it,” said Eugenia Butler, who has type 2 diabetes. “It’s learning to control your diabetes.”

At one point, Butler’s diabetes was so out of control, she could barely walk.

“That’s when I realized I was too young to walk on a cane. I was too young to be wheelchair-bound,” Butler said.

So she began to exercise at her local YMCA.

“I went to the water aerobics and started walking a little on the side,” Butler said.

She said she also started eating healthier.

“My weight when I first started was 235 pounds, and now my weight is under 200,” Butler said. “I’m not going to tell you what, but I’m under 200.”

She is now off her insulin medication.

The YMCA wants to help improve the health of people like Butler by changing their lifestyle with its national diabetes prevention program.

“This year, they’ve actually selected 10 cities across the U.S. to implement the program, and Jacksonville is one of them,” said Nikos Westmoreland, of First Coast YMCA.

It will be a lifestyle intervention for adults who have type 2 diabetes or those at risk of developing it. Local YMCAs will lead the way.

It’s a year-long commitment. Participants will take classes that teach healthy habits at the beginning of the program and then monthly maintenance meetings for the remainder of the year.”

“This program was actually based on research at Indiana University, and it’s been piloted at 27 cities in the U.S.,” Westmoreland said.

So far, there’s been a 58 percent success rate, according to research.

The local YMCAs will unroll the program in the coming weeks and they are still looking for participants. If you are interested, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to sign up.
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