Unleash Your Health

Healthy aging starts with prevention

BY AMY DESMOND

AGING WELL isn’t just about adding years to your life — it’s about unleashing your potential to live those years with energy, confidence, and joy. In Delaware, where chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes and obesity are on the rise, too many adults are spending their later years managing an illness instead of thriving. But with the right support and early intervention, we can rewrite that story. Prevention is not only possible, it’s powerful.

Today, 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, and millions more have prediabetes — often without knowing it. Obesity, one of the leading risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, affects people of all ages and contributes to rising rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other serious conditions. These challenges not only impact quality of life, but also increase healthcare costs for individuals and communities.

The good news? These outcomes are largely preventable, and prevention starts with support.

At the YMCA of Delaware, we’re committed to helping individuals take control of their health through a variety of chronic disease prevention options, with our Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) leading the charge.

This CDC-recognized, year-long lifestyle change program is designed for adults with prediabetes or those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Participants work with a trained lifestyle coach in a supportive small-group setting to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, reduce stress, and achieve modest weight loss — key steps shown to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

The results are proven: programs like the YMCA’s DPP can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by more than 50%, and by more than 70% for adults over 60.

We believe everyone deserves the chance to live healthier. That’s why most insurance providers cover the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program. And for those without coverage, financial assistance is available, making the program truly accessible to all.

Beyond diabetes prevention, the Y offers additional chronic disease support programs, including blood pressure monitoring, LIVESTRONG for cancer survivors, healthy aging fitness, and more. Whether someone is working to prevent illness or manage an existing condition, the YMCA is here to help every step of the way.

Delaware’s aging population deserves the opportunity to live not just longer, but better. With the right tools and support, we can reduce the burden of chronic disease, lower healthcare costs, and help individuals thrive well into their later years.

You have the power to change your health story. And the time to start is now. Together, we can build a healthier, stronger Delaware — one life at a time.

Amy Desmond is the director of community health at the YMCA of Delaware.