Helping To Fight the Battle Against Type 2 Diabetes:
Over the past year, participating Fitness Together studios across Massachusetts and Rhode Island undertook an ambitious study to examine the impact of a 26-week individualized fitness training program on people with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
"Diabetes is a major health issue affecting more than 25 million Americans, and our franchisees have told us they are happy to have a chance to make a difference," says Jeff Jervik, president and CEO of Fitness Together Holdings, Inc.
Beginning late summer 2010, each client, after receiving their physician's clearance, signed up for six-months of observation for the following:
• An initial health evaluation followed by fitness re-tests every six weeks.
• Resistance training three times a week with a personal trainer at a Fitness Together Studio.
• Nutritional coaching and recording of meals in a food journal.
• Cardiovascular exercise a minimum of three times a week.
• Frequent blood glucose checks at Fitness Together
Clients were also asked to answer questions about how diabetes affected their sense of well-being, both at the start and the conclusion of the study.
Joan Hill, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD, CDE, LDN) said, "Through this observational study, we will better understand the impact of diet and exercise on diabetes control, high blood pressure, one's sense of well-being and the costs of medications."
As the study nears completion, the data is showing a distinct correlation between lifestyle changes to a reduction in weight, body fat, diabetes medication and an improvement in overall sense of well-being and health. What this means is that meaningful lifestyle changes can drastically reduce the impact of diabetes, both in terms of health and in medical costs to individuals, employers and insurance companies.
While Fitness Together is hoping to be part of the solution, our nation's health policy model needs to change dramatically from putting a Bandaid on illness with medication only, to preventing it through programs that include proper diet and exercise. "If we have a known cure, a proven way to reverse this disease, shouldn't we be focused on implementing programs to scale this cure?" asks Dr. Mark Hyman, MD and Chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine.
The results of Fitness Together's comprehensive set of data on 24 subjects will soon be made available. In the mean time, it's nice to see that Fitness Together trainers and clients know the value of hard work and lifestyle changes in achieving and maintaining health.
Steve Lichtman speaks at Senior Diabetes Event, May 2011
A Message from Steve Lichtman, owner of 4 Fitness Together studios:
Congress has passed legislation to overhaul our healthcare system, lower costs and provide every American with health insurance coverage. Yet it could be several years before we see positive results. It's true that our healthcare system is inefficient and laden with excessive costs.
But are the health insurance companies and medical community solely to blame? What can we citizens do to help lower costs and make our insurance coverage more affordable?
The answer is: We can do more to take better care of ourselves.
Take diabetes for example. Diabetes has become an epidemic. Data from the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet says that: 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. - 7.8% of the population have diabetes and another 57 million people are pre-diabetes. This means over 80 million Americans have or will some day have diabetes. While heart disease is a leading cause of death, 75% of heart attack patients had diabetes first.
From a cost persepctive, 1 of every 5 healthcare dollars is spent on someone who has diabetes. Diabetes is 1 of 4 major drivers increasing healthcare costs. Here's the good news: while there's no cure yet for Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes can be reversed with proper diet and exercise. And of all people afflicted with diabetes, 90-95% of them have Type 2. This means we can help the vast majority of diabetics get healthier. At Fitness Together, we help our clients lose weight, lower blood pressure and lower blood glucose - often to the point where they need fewer meds.
By decreasing people's dependency on drugs, we can help more people live healthier, productive lives - doing our part to help lower healthcare costs.
In Good Health, Steve Lichtman
I've been here 14 weeks. I've increased my strength three-fold probably from what I was when I started and I got it so I am in control of my diabetes as opposed to my diabetes being in control of me. I've reversed 30 years of bad habits and gotten back to where I was working out as an athlete on a regular basis.
I am stronger now and more flexible and it has a great impact on my blood sugar. I like the way I am now. I like what I've become.
I like the way I feel again, and more importantly I need to be in control of this disease and the only way I can to that is stay focused on what I can do.
A Message from Steve Lichtman, owner of 4 Fitness Together studios:
