Diabetes Prevention: Lose to Win
By Marketing Specialist Levi Oyster
Exercise, nutritious diet, and stress management all contribute to preventing diabetes.
Are you a customer-owner who has questions about diabetes prevention? SCF providers, specialists, and dietitians can guide and support you. One service available to customer-owners is The Lose to Win Program, an evidence-based diabetes prevention program that focuses on healthy lifestyle changes with accountability along the way. Setting health goals can be easy for some, and daunting for others, the Lose to Win team is here to partner with you every step of the way.
Diabetes is when the sugar level in the bloodstream is higher than normal. Individuals can experience increased thirst, hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, have a hard time chewing and swallowing food, among other symptoms. If left untreated, diabetes can also lead to serious health problems. Contact your primary care provider if you experience any symptoms.
Diabetes is both preventable and treatable, and many resources and services are available to support individuals and families in reducing risk and managing the condition. With early awareness, healthy lifestyle choices, and access to care, people can live long and fulfilling lives. In Alaska, more than 41,000 adults — about 7.6% of the state’s population — are living with diabetes, and Alaska Native and American Indian adults experience type 2 diabetes at three times the rate of other groups.
Lose to Win is a 17-week program designed to provide guidance and tools to promote positive lifestyle changes among participants. This is a team effort, supported by SCF health educators, dietitians, behavioral health consultants, and exercise physiologists.
Throughout the program, participants explore a variety of diabetes prevention skills and techniques. Classes are held weekly at the Yagheli Shesh Qenq’a Anchorage Native Primary Care Center Learning Kitchen where health educators share cooking demonstrations on how make nutritious meals at home while learning about healthy eating. You will also track food, set health goals, and find ways to eat nourishing meals when out and about.
Exercise and stress management are also paramount to diabetes prevention. While exercise is important for everyone, activity benefits people with diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels and boosting the body’s sensitivity to insulin, helping to better regulate overall blood sugar. Lose to Win participants learn easy ways to incorporate activity into their daily routine from exercise physiologists. Additionally, the team exercise physiologist leads 30 minutes of exercise every week before the class.
While stress is not a direct cause of diabetes, it can significantly impact it by affecting blood sugar levels. Stress hormones can cause blood sugar to rise, making diabetes management more difficult. Behavioral health consultants work with participants to adapt stress management techniques into their daily lives.
Lose to Win holds two cohorts a year, each spring and fall. Visit southcentralfoundation.com or contact the Lose to Win team for information about the next cohort.
If you or a customer-owner you know are interested in joining the next session, email the Lose to Win team at scflosetowin@southcentralfoundation.com or call Southcentral Foundation Health Education at 907-729-2689 for more information.
