August 17, 2024
By Kelsey Adams-Mortensen, ACHC Marketing Director
COUNCIL, Idaho-The Program Coordinator of the Diabetic Prevention Program (DPP) at Adams County Health Center (ACHC) is offering a free informational session about the program for the community in the ACHC conference room on Tuesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 4 at 1 p.m.
The purpose of each informational session is to learn more about DPP, who may be eligible for the program, and to talk about signing up for the no-cost-to-the-participant course that will begin at ACHC in September of 2024.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to once again be able to offer the DPP at ACHC,” said Susan Goudie-Adams, Licensed Practical Nurse and Chronic Care Manager, who is ACHC’s DPP lifestyle coach. “Teaching this community about diabetes and its prevention is a passion of mine, and the DPP is a proven way for people to learn the necessary skills and lifestyles changes needed to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. It is my hope that members of the community who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, will come to one of these informational sessions to see if this program is the right fit for them.”
DPP teaches that weight loss is the best way to decrease the risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Each informational session will discuss how the program emphasizes that fact by encouraging members to work together as a team to support each other to reach weight loss goals and to stay motivated to take charge of their own health to prevent being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
“I encourage anyone who is interested in being a part of ACHC’s DPP to attend one of these informational sessions,” said Goudie-Adams. “It is the best way to find out if you are eligible for the program, and it also allows attendees to ask specific questions related to their own situation.”
ACHC’s third DPP class is scheduled to graduate next month and has been a success with members reaching their weight loss and lifestyle goals. During the course, students learned that weight loss can not only help them prevent becoming a type 2 diabetic, but that losing weight can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, which leads to an even healthier lifestyle.
“I always tell my patients that type 2 diabetes is an extremely time-consuming health issue that is expensive both mentally and financially,” said Goudie-Adams. “Many people do not realize that once they are diagnosed with diabetes, every single decision made throughout the day is affected by it. This is why I feel it is so important to prevent type 2 diabetes before it begins, and the DPP is the best way to learn how to prevent such a major life-changing event from occurring.”
If a person has any questions about ACHC’s no-cost DPP, Goudie-Adams highly recommends attending one of the offered informational sessions. If someone is unable to attend a session and has questions about the program, he or she may call the clinic or email her at [email protected] after the September informational session has occurred.
ACHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center that strives to provide high quality health care services to residents and visitors of Adams, Washington, Valley, Idaho and surrounding counties. With healthcare facilities few and far between, ACHC offers an array of services to meet the healthcare needs of everyone, regardless of social or economic status. Some of the services ACHC currently offers are primary care, dental, pharmacy, laboratory, optometry, behavioral health, physical therapy, diabetes care, immunizations, financial and insurance.
