Supportive Intervention Project to Prevent or Reverse Pre-Diabetes

Chronic care currently accounts for the majority of health care dollars spent in the United States. The World Health Organization predicts if the current trend continues the number of people with diabetes worldwide will double. Overweight and obesity, a predictor of many chronic diseases including pre-diabetes, affects 60% of all workers in the United States. Changes in lifestyle will decrease risks for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes while at the same time increasing productivity, reducing absenteeism, and the use of health benefits and sick leave. The primary goal of this project was to provide opportunities and support for employees in a rural Vermont community hospital to improve and maintain their health status while gaining knowledge about preventing or reversing pre-diabetes. The long term goal is to decrease the cost of chronic care in the community by decreasing the utilization of healthcare services. This presentation will focus on how a pilot walking program improved the health status of participants who were at risk for developing pre-diabetes. Each participant was given a walking map and volunteered to take turns at being the group leader. This pilot was done over 12 weeks; providing educational sessions in health promotion, health screening, physical activities, and nutrition. Success with the program was based on biostatistics collected prior to the start of the program and at the end. The program was not only successful in meeting the participants' personal goals but was motivational for other employees.