By LUKE PUTVIN | Last Updated October 3, 2019
Verdant Health Commission hosted its first Type 2 Diabetes Screening Event on September 28. Individuals talked with Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and an Exercise Physiologist. They completed a survey and calculated their risk through that and a free A1C blood test.
“A lot of people don’t know their risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes,” said Megan Ellison, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator. “One out of three adults are in the pre-diabetes range, and 90% of them don’t know that.”
Ellison said that, though there are elements out of our control like family history, age and gender, there are things we can control to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes. These things are our physical activity, weight and practicing healthy eating.
“Eating lots of plants and fiber,” Ellison said, “and also just a balanced diet. A balance of protein with carbs and eating enough to support the weight that is healthy for you. Another big thing is just fitting in exercise activity, even in small amounts. 20 minutes a day can have a large impact, and the goal is 150 minutes of exercise a week.”
Ellison has been a dietitian for 10 years and has been teaching classes at Verdant since it opened.
“I love seeing people make changes and be excited about the improvements they’re seeing in their health… it’s improving their quality of life, so it means they can do the things they want to do,” Ellison said.
The screening event provided attendees with local resources in the area to help them meet their goals such as local gyms and more classes Verdant offers. For more information about the resources that Verdant provides including an event schedule, visit www.verdanthealth.org.
