The Orange Board of Health and the Orange Visiting Nurse Association are looking for residents to participate in a study of pre-diabetes in the community.
Diabetes takes a significant toll on the public’s health and on the nation’s healthcare system. In addition to the 29 million people in the U.S. suffering from diabetes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 71 million adults age 20 and older have pre-diabetes.
People with pre-diabetes have blood glucose levels higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetic. Pre-diabetes increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
The aim of the study is to prevent and postpone onset of type 2 diabetes. This study is open Orange town residents between the ages 30 and 65 with a family history of diabetes, a personal history of gestational diabetes, and obesity. The study will be limited to 20 people.
Accepted participants will begin with an initial meeting, during which they will have their weight, body measurements, and personal and family history recorded. That will be followed by appointments every two weeks for six months. At these appointments, participants will weigh in, and receive dietary and exercise counseling.
The goals of the study are to decrease calorie count by 500 per day, to achieve a weight loss of 7 percent over the period of the study, and to increase physical activity by 1.5 hours per week.
If you are interested in participating in the study, contact the OVNA at 203-891-4752 or at mbiondi@orange-ct.gov by March 26.