Diabetes prevention program offered by Hispanic Health Resource Center earns national recognition

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has once again recognized ProHealth Care’s Hispanic Health Resource Center for its participation in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program.

The resource center now has Full Plus recognition status. Full recognition status means ProHealth's evidence-based programming effectively meets all of the standards for CDC recognition for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes. The new Full Plus designation allows ProHealth to remain in Full recognition status for five years due to its excellent record of program-participant retention. 

Under the program, ProHealth’s health promoters work with participants to reduce their risk of acquiring diabetes through the use of nutrition, weight loss, exercise and education. The free program is culturally tailored in Spanish and is offered as a community benefit by ProHealth Care. Participants must meet eligibility criteria for body weight, A1C results or pre-diabetes.

The program begins with 16 weekly sessions, followed by eight monthly sessions. As many as 25 participants are enrolled in the program at any given time. To be eligible for recognition from the CDC, 70% of program participants must lose between 5% and 7% of their starting weight and keep it off for one year. In the past, some participants have successfully lost as much as 20% to 30% of their starting weight over the course of the program.

In 2015, ProHealth became Wisconsin’s first national-program provider to achieve Full recognition status.

“We began offering the program in 2013,” said Saul Juarez Aguilar, ProHealth Care manager of care management. “At that time we were the pioneer organization to receive recognition for delivering it in Spanish.”

Health promoters Soraya Bericoto, Martha Viscuso, Elizabet Tesch and Maria Nino de Guzmán work with patients in the program at the resource center, which is located at 210 NW Barstow St. in downtown Waukesha.

Aguilar said the program sells itself. “Participants in the program learn that they can change their lifestyle through food and exercise. Their testimonials show value and help spread the word,” he said. “We get most of our clients through word of mouth.”

For information about the program and other Hispanic Resource Center services, call 262-928-4181.