Local Impact - Oregon

Jennifer Smith

Warm Springs Oregon Diabetes Prevention Program

Warm Springs community member Jennifer Smith was diagnosed by her primary care provider with Pre-Diabetes in December 2011, concerned about becoming diabetic she immediately enrolled in the Warm Springs Diabetes Prevention Program in January and completed the class sessions in April. Nearly six months after completing the 16 week program Jennifer remains actively involved with the program and continues to see her lifestyle coach.

Jennifer states that the Diabetes Prevention Program has helped her reach her goals. The classes encouraged her to make healthier changes, keep her on track and try new foods.  One of the healthy changes that she has made and implemented into her lifestyle is eating less more often, walking on a regular basis and making dietary changes. When asked, what were some of the things learned from the program, Jennifer responded “I learned how bad pop is and about exercise as well as watching how I eat,” exercise and portion control should be equally balanced to maintain a healthy weight. how

Her favorite part of the program is being rewarded for her achievements- earning points for making healthy lifestyle changes she is able to cash in the points to purchase items in the DPP store, a couple items she earned was a George Foremen grill and a food steamer.

Jennifer’s biggest success since joining the program so far has been losing 23 pounds. She has done this by watching what she eats and being more physically active than before.

Jennifer’s advice to the people in the community is “Take this class.”

Diabetes in Oregon

According to 2008 CDC data, approximately 199,000 people in Oregon – 6.5% of the state’s population – had diagnosed diabetes, and many suffer from serious diabetes related complications and conditions. In addition to the human toll diabetes places on the people in Oregon, the financial burden diabetes places on the health system in the state is staggering – in 2007, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Oregon was approximately $2.18 billion.

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