Caitlin Whyte (Host): Welcome to UK HealthCast, a podcast presented by UK HealthCare. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte. Today, we're delving into the topic of diabetes prevention with our expert guest, Erica Hill. Erica is a dedicated Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach at the UK Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. Well, Erica, to start out our conversation today, can you tell us first, what is prediabetes?

Erica Hill: Absolutely. So, prediabetes is actually a very common condition where a person's blood sugar or blood glucose is higher than normal. So, what happens is if it's not managed, it can actually cause health problems, including type 2 diabetes, which is the most prevalent form of diabetes. So, the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center actually provides the National Lifestyle Change Program, which is demonstrated that the prevention or delay of prediabetes is actually possible from full on developing into that type 2 diabetes.

Host: So then, what would put someone at risk for prediabetes?

Erica Hill: So often, there is actually no clear symptoms, which is why it goes undetected and it flies under the radar. So while it's a surprise to most people, it can actually be diagnosed relatively easy with a simple blood test. If your A1c is between 5.7 and 6.4, and you have a fasting blood glucose between 100 to 125, you are likely going to have prediabetes.

Host: All right. Well, can you explain and walk us through what you call the six-question risk test?

Erica Hill: So, the six-question risk test is actually a way that you can count the score on your fingers to decide if you are at risk of prediabetes. So first question is, are you a man or a woman? If you're a man, you hold up one finger. How old are you? If you're over the age of 60, you're actually at a higher risk, so you would hold up three fingers. If you are over the age of 50, two fingers. And then, if you're over the age of 40, one finger. You then ask yourself, are you physically active? If you're not physically active regularly, then you definitely want to hold up one finger for no. If you have a family history of diabetes, and that is a sibling or a parent, then you would definitely hold up another finger. If you have high blood pressure, you would hold up a finger. And then, finally, if you have a specific body type. So if you are slender, you do not hold up any fingers. But if you're a little overweight, add a finger. If you're a lot overweight, add two fingers. And if you're very overweight, then you want to add three fingers. So when you're holding up all those fingers, if you're actually holding up five fingers or more, you likely have prediabetes.

Host: So, if a listener finds themselves holding up five fingers or more, what should they then do?

Erica Hill: You should absolutely talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar or your blood glucose tested. That's going to be the most accurate way to discover and diagnose if you have prediabetes.

Host: Great. Now, let's talk about UK's Lifestyle Change Diabetes Prevention Program. What is it exactly?

Erica Hill: So, the DPP is actually an evidence based lifestyle change program to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. So, we focus on losing a modest amount of weight and then getting regular physical activity. So, prediabetes, these to be thought of as almost like a fork in the road. If you ignore it, your risk is going to go up. But if you loose a little bit of weight and you increase your physical activity, your risk goes down. So, it's not a diet. It's not a fad. It's not a quick fix. It's a lifestyle change program that does just that. It changes lives.

So through the program, you actually get support. So, you meet online for 16 one-hour group sessions over a six-month period of time with monthly followups afterwards for a full year. Then, you work and learn with others in the same situation as you for an entire year and get that support that you need. You also are provided a health coach, which is where you would work with somebody who understands your journey. And your coach, or your coaches, sometimes we have more than one, actually help you build healthy habits. So, it's not just about diet. It's about eating healthy, being more active, losing weight, sleeping better, and reducing stress.

And then, finally, the biggest part of this program is setting realistic goals. We want to stick to weight loss programs. And sticking to weight loss programs can actually be hard, but this lifestyle change program is built around small, sustainable wins, while meeting specific, achievable goals for lasting results that actually are meaningful and beneficial.

Host: I love that. Well, what are some topics covered in the sessions?

Erica Hill: Oh, my goodness. We cover so many topics, but the great part is that we don't just cover the topics that you would absolutely think about. So when you think of a lifestyle change program or you think about losing weight, honestly, you know, the first thoughts in your head are eating well, getting active, and those are some of the basic things we talk about. But we also talk about food labels, shopping and cooking to prevent type 2 diabetes, eating well away from home, because sometimes we're not always home, right? Coping with our triggers, managing stress, and then finally, resources and availability of support, not just within the program, but outside as well. So, this is just, like I said, a lifestyle change and it continues on even after the program has ended.

Host: Great. Well, as we wrap up here today, what else should people know about the classes?

Erica Hill: Something that everybody should know is that we actually have regular group classes starting, usually the late spring or in the fall, but we do have one that's actually coming up that's going to be starting virtually on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 on Zoom. And that's going to be starting the last week of January. So, this is actually an opportunity for people, because it is a little bit later than our typical classes. So, some people that have difficulty attending our programs may have a little bit easier time doing it.

Host: Thank you for sharing with us today. We appreciate your time and expertise, Erica. And thank you for listening to UK HealthCast, a podcast from UK HealthCare. If you're interested in learning more about the Diabetes Prevention Program or signing up for virtual classes, be sure to visit ukhealthcare.uky.edu. And don't forget to subscribe to UK HealthCast for more expert insights into health and wellness.