BY STEVEN JUPITER
JOANNE LEMAY WILL be leading a free diabetes-prevention workshop in Brandon, beginning on Tuesday, March 28. She poses with the materials she’ll use in the course in her office at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
BRANDON—As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is especially true with Type-2 diabetes. Taking early steps to fend off the disease is much easier than trying to live with the condition itself. But that journey can be tough to make alone. And so Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) is sponsoring a free diabetes-prevention workshop in Brandon that begins on March 28.
The program will be facilitated by Joanne Lemay, who has 24 years of experience in health care and has herself struggled with pre-diabetes.
“I’m on the journey right there with everyone else,” said Lemay.
Though weight-management is certainly part of the program—a reduction of 5% to 7% of body weight is generally sought—it’s not the focus or the main goal in itself. Instead, the class will teach participants how to structure their lives so that they exercise more, eat more thoughtfully, and make sustainable changes to maintain better health.
“It’s really about Vermonters helping each other, taking small steps each week,” said Lemay. “It’s not a diet. It’s about changing behaviors. It’s an evidence-based program put together by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).”
The program lasts a year, with weekly meetings for the 16 weeks, then switching to every other week, and ultimately transitioning to every month. In each session, the group discusses a particular theme and learns a new skill. For example, participants learn how to read nutrition labels and plan meals. Each session will also have 4 or 5 pages of accompanying reading from materials compiled by the CDC and provided free by RRMC.
“It’s a very personal journey,” said Gerianne Smart, Communications Director for RRMC. “Joanne is an incredible instructor. She’s there to provide tools and help keep people on track.”
“The goal is to build skills to last beyond the program,” added Lemay. “Some people use the structure of the program to maintain their healthy habits, but others learn what they need to and are able to move forward on their own. Everyone is a bit different.”
“I see it as a support group,” says Colleen Wright, Assistant Director of Brandon Recreation. “This is simply a way to keep people on a healthy track, interact with others on their journey, and offer support. After birthday season at my house, and also St. Patty’s Day, I need to be held accountable!”
According to the CDC, approximately 10% of the U.S. population lives with diabetes (roughly 37 million people), of whom 90-95% live with Type 2. Unlike juvenile diabetes (Type 1), which is a genetic condition present at birth, Type 2 is an acquired condition that often results from a combination of poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Diabetes of either type can cause heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. It can also require daily intake of manufactured insulin.
Yet even those currently at risk for Type 2 can turn things around and stave off the disease if they take control of their situation and make sustained changes to their lives.
There were 12 people signed up for the upcoming class at the end of last week. According to Lemay, there’s room for several more. The class is free and you don’t have to register online. You can simply show up.
The classes will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 in the conference room at the Brandon Museum (next to the Baptist Church, across from Ace Hardware, on Grove Street) in Brandon, starting on March 28.
“You don’t need to bring anything but an open mind,” said Lemay.
For more information, and to find out about other workshops being offered throughout Vermont (for example, chronic pain management, quitting smoking, high-blood pressure), visit myhealthyvt.org.
