In partnership with the YMCA, Allegheny Health Network supported a diabetes prevention program that helped community members improve their health status.
Diabetes prevention program helps individuals get healthier
Allegheny Health Network's community health needs assessment identified diabetes as the number one health concern in the western Pennsylvania community. As a result, 2014 became a year focused on diabetes, with AHN's community affairs department concentrating its sponsorship and programming resources on this prevalent chronic disease.
In partnership with the YMCA of Pittsburgh, AHN supported a diabetes prevention program dedicated to improving the health of individuals with pre-diabetes. The communities surrounding several hospitals, including West Penn, Forbes and Allegheny General, were invited to participate in a program offering free coaching and education related to the disease. Prevention through exercise, good nutrition and health monitoring were among the key topics.
This year-long program helped community members achieve significant weight loss, overall improvements in health status and greater long-term engagement in maintaining good health through healthy lifestyles.
