Lifestyle Balance Program helps prevent diabetes
When Charlie Nelson was diagnosed with prediabetes last year, it spurred him into action to protect his health.
Several of his family members were dealing with serious health problems caused by cancer and diabetes, and Charlie didn't want to end up like them. His mother and sister had diabetes, his brother-in-law lost a leg to blood clots, and his father waited too long to get treated for prostate cancer.
That's also when he met Rocky Plotnick, the lead instructor in Juneau for the SEARHC Lifestyle Balance Program. Charlie, a "Haida from Craig" who turns 72 in April, said working with Rocky and the Lifestyle Balance Program will keep him from getting diabetes.
"When I got my diagnosis (of prediabetes) I figured I better do something," Charlie said about taking the 16-week Lifestyle Balance Program class this past fall. "I was only two or three points under being diabetic, and my doctor was going to put me on insulin. I don't think I'll get diabetes now."
The Lifestyle Balance Program is specially designed so Alaska Native and American Indian adults (age 18 or older) diagnosed with prediabetes can avoid or delay getting Type 2 diabetes. SEARHC offers the class twice a year in Sitka and Juneau.
Students learn how simple lifestyle changes such as quitting tobacco, 30 minutes of physical activity a day and healthy eating habits can prevent or reduce the effects of diabetes.
Charlie played basketball for the Juneau ANB team until he was 54 years old, but stopped being active until last year. When he joined the SEARHC Lifestyle Balance Program, Charlie was able to take advantage of a special gym membership and weekly meetings with athletic trainer Maya Raschal through Juneau's Fitness Essentials gym.
"The hardest thing was admitting I needed to change things," Charlie said. "I changed my diet and the exercise is really helping me. I've lost about 20 pounds. I feel good, and that's the real test of all this. I feel a lot better."
To learn more about Lifestyle Balance, call recruiters Kathy Dennis in Juneau at 364-4453 or Jeannette Chavez in Sitka at 966-8916.
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Copyright © 2008, SEARHC
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
