Diabetes prevention: How one YMCA program is changing the game

A small diabetes prevention program based out of a YMCA in Indianapolis has shown significant promise for the potential of reducing diabetes on a macro level, according to The New York Times.

The prevention program was born out of extensive research led by David Marrero, PhD, director of the Diabetes Translational Research Center at Indiana University in Indianapolis, and Ron Ackermann, MD, an Internal Medicine physician with Chicago's Northwestern Medical Group. Over 3,200 pre-diabetic patients between the ages of 25 and 75 were randomly placed in one of three groups. Participants in the first group were given lifestyle interventions that included a low-fat diet, exercise and 16 one-hour in-person meetings to assist the individual in setting goals and overall health improvement. The second group was given the diabetic medication metformin, and members in the third were administered a placebo.

The trial concluded early because of the convincing nature of the results. Those given metformin had a 31 percent reduction in the risk of developing diabetes. Those in the lifestyle intervention group experienced a 58 percent reduction to their risk. A comprehensive analysis confirmed that the results for lifestyle interventions were replicable.

The success of the trial wasn't enough to make lifestyle intervention a viable preventive treatment option. According to the Times, the program would cost $1,476 per patient if run out of physician's offices.

It was then Dr. Ackermann and Dr. Marrero turned to the YMCA, of which there are 2,700 in the U.S. In fact, more than 46 million people live in a three-mile radius of one of them. Architects of the research were able to create intervention programs at the Indy YMCA by training the facilities employees to on how to direct them.

The program was a success and new studies were conducted to show that the Y could be a promising avenue for the nationwide proliferation of the lifestyle intervention program.

In 2012, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation granted the Y approximately $12 million to start a pilot program. The CMMI estimates that if the all Medicare beneficiaries were given access to the program, the government could save close to $2,650 per participant over 15 months, which is significantly more than the program costs.

On March 23, the Obama administration announced plans to expand Medicare coverage to pay for diabetes prevention programs, including lifestyle change programs at the YMCA.

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