One in three American adults has pre-diabetes. To help combat this growing epidemic, The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension in Lake County is hosting the National Diabetes Program: Prevent T2, beginning at 4 pm on Nov. 7 at the National Training Center (NTC), 1935 Don Wickham Drive in Clermont.

The program, sponsored by South Lake Hospital, is a year-long class that meets weekly for the first six months, then once or twice a month for the second six months to help participants maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

The program offers group support and allows participants to work with two trained lifestyle coaches to learn the skills needed to make lasting changes. The class will teach how to eat healthy, add physical activity, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes.

“If you have prediabetes, you are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a serious disease,” said Lake County Extension Agent Mia Wilchcombe. “Many people with prediabetes who do not lose weight or do not engage in moderate physical activity can develop Type 2 diabetes within five years. The good news is that you can prevent Type 2 diabetes.”

The Prevent T2 lifestyle change program, offered by the UF/IFAS Extension, is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is proven to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about Prevent T2 and to register, contact Wilchcombe at 352-343-4101 ext. 2721 or Sumter County Agent LuAnn Duncan at 352-569-6871.

For additional details about any of these events, contact the UF/IFAS Extension in Lake County at 352-343-4101 or visit http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lake/.

The mission of the UF/IFAS Extension in Lake County is to develop knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. The Extension service provides free consultations, as well as educational programs on a variety of subjects.