Medicare will soon cover the National Diabetes Prevention Program, which focuses on preventing Type 2 diabetes.

“It has not started yet, but it will,” said Melissa Waldron, Barren River District Health Department health educator with Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. “We received word a few weeks ago, but it did not say when it will start.”

The American Medical Association reports more than 11 million seniors, or 26.9 percent of the Medicare population, have diabetes and half of all seniors over age 65 have pre-diabetes. In addition, one in every three Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes and its complications. Spending on Medicare beneficiaries with pre-diabetes and diabetes is estimated to be more than $2 trillion over the next 10 years, including $1.7 trillion in federal spending. Providing Medicare coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program will help seniors avoid diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Michelle Hines, aging director for the Barren River Area Development District Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living, said coverage would be “a great thing” for her clients.

“It would definitely help them,” she said.

However, there could be some barriers, including affordable healthy eating and transportation to the program, Hines said. It can also be difficult to get some seniors to take care of their health.

“You have to get people to understand they can go to (the program). You have to educate them that this would be good for them now. Convincing people that it’s a great thing is difficult,” she said. “You do have seniors that are health nuts. They always were. They’ll be easy buy-ins.”

Having a community garden could help seniors eat healthy and take better care of themselves, which may help prevent diabetes, Hines said.

“Working the garden is a good idea if you can get it going,” she said.

State employees already get the price of the program covered in their insurance, Waldron said.

“It’s one of the few in the nation that do that coverage for state employees as one of the wellness benefits if they have state insurance,” she said.

The one-year program, with which the health department partners with The Medical Center, helps people who had gestational diabetes, have pre-diabetes or have risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes, Waldron said. It is an evidence-based program through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The first six months participants meet weekly, then they meet monthly,” she said. “Each session lasts about an hour.”

A goal is to reduce weight by 5 to 7 percent by increasing physical activity. For most people, that is a 15- to 20-pound weight loss for the year, which can reduce the chance of developing diabetes by 58 percent, Waldron said. The aim is to get participants to exercise 150 minutes a week, but change doesn’t happen all at once.

“Everything is very gradual in this program,” she said. “This gives them a support system and slowly builds up changes so you can meet those goals.”

They also learn about healthy eating choices, portion sizes and fat grams, Waldron said.

“We talk about stress and mental health as far as making lifestyle choices,” she said. “We focus on the whole individual so they can successfully make healthy lifestyle choices they need to prevent Type 2 diabetes.”

The group has six to 10 people, Waldron said.

“We keep it small enough so they can ask questions, share concerns and share successes,” she said.

Waldron has seen a large success rate.

“Most people meet their weight loss goal within the first six months,” she said. “If they don’t, they still have a year. Their physical activity is well above 150 minutes per week toward the end.”

The next program starts Monday in Warren County. Cost is $299. Another starts June 2 in Barren County. Cost is $199. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Waldron at 270-781-8039, ext. 130.

— Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter @bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.