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A UBC Okanagan professor created a program in collaboration with the YMCA that offers diet and exercise counselling to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and it will soon be available across the country.

Dr. Mary Jung developed a program called Small Steps for Big Changes, which is currently delivered in some YMCA locations in BC. It hasshown to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a news release. The program will soon be available in eight Canadian provinces, including BC, and in Portugal and Australia.

"One in eight Canadians are at risk of Type 2 diabetes and we know that up to 80 per cent of Type 2 diabetes cases are preventable by adopting healthy behaviours," Dr. Jung said in the release.

"The goal of Small Steps for Big Changes is to help as many Canadians as possible make this change. The YMCA, by virtue of its many locations across Canada and commitment to inclusiveness, is helping us make a giant leap forward."

The program was built on nearly a decade's worth of clinical trials on behaviour change and created in collaboration with YMCA Canada, Diabetes Canada and UBC researchers including Dr. Jung's Diabetes Prevention Research Group. YMCAs from the Okanagan were used to pilot the program.

The program is free as it is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council.

Those who register with the program will receive access to the YMCA for one month along with six, one-on-one sessions with a coach specifically trained to deliver the program. Each session will include a discussion on nutrition and physical activity along with 30 minutes of supervised exercise.

"Small Steps for Big Changes aligns with the YMCA philosophy that we all have it in us to shine, but sometimes we just need a supportive coach and environment where we feel like we belong to take the first step, and the ones after that," Peter Dinsdale, President and CEO of YMCA Canada, said in the release.

"We are excited by this partnership because it reflects our goal to positively impact the health of individuals and families in an inclusive and sustainable manner, while reducing financial barriers."

Diabetes Canada just launched its newest strategy to maximize the real-world impacts of diabetes knowledge and solutions.

"Every three minutes someone in Canada is diagnosed with diabetes. It's an alarming statistic that demands urgent action," Dr. Rachel Reeve, Executive Director of Research and Science at Diabetes Canada, said in the release.

"Investing in research is a priority for Diabetes Canada because we see so clearly how new knowledge and solution can benefit people with diabetes or people at high risk of developing this complex chronic condition. Small Steps for Big Changes is an example of successful diabetes research being applied to new communities across Canada."

Those interested in partaking in the program at YMCA locations should visit the Small Steps for Big Changes website here.

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