Western Pennsylvania YMCAs offer diabetes management programs

Nov. 15--Local YMCAs throughout the Pittsburgh region are offering diabetes management programs that Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover as a preventive benefit for customers beginning next year.

The programs include training with a coach that includes food, weight and activity tracking, as well as group support.

Anthony Matrisciano, a Highmark Health spokesman, said there are no out-of-pocket costs.

"More than 29 million US adults have diabetes and 84 million US adults are living with prediabetes," Lori Hough, Highmark's vice president of clinical care and wellness, said in a news release. "Prediabetes is a serious health condition that increases a person's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but it is reversible, so it's important that we address it."

People wishing to train at home can take online courses through Retrofit, an online and mobile weight-management and disease-prevention platform

Diabetes-related hospitalizations have increased 38 percent among Pennsylvania residents under 45 since 2000,, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4).

Statewide, there were 24,283 hospital admissions for diabetes in 2016--up from 21,528 in 2000, the report said. In 2016, hospital admissions for diabetes led to about $205 million in hospital payments in Pennsylvania.

The regional YMCA's offering the programs are:

--Pittsburgh locations.

--Greensburg YMCA, 101 S. Maple Ave.

--Valley Points Family YMCA, 800 Constitution Blvd in New Kensington.

--Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands, 490 Bessemer Road in Mt. Pleasant.

--Penn Hills YMCA, 11817 Frankstown Road.

--Sampson Family YMCA, 2200 Route 286 in Plum.

--Ligonier Valley YMCA, 110 W. Church St.

--YMCA of McKeesport, 604 Evans Ave.

--Wilmerding YMCA, 1 Memorial Drive.

The program's main goal is to help people lose at least 5 percent of their body weight.

"Our estimates show that employers could see $400 to $1,300 per year in savings per member when a participating member reaches the 5 percent weight loss goal through the program," said Hough. "So not only does the employee and/or their family member benefit from being healthier and avoiding diabetes, but the employer benefits too. Plus, healthier employees benefit everyone -- themselves, their families and their employer."

Ben Schmitt is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7991, bschmitt@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @Bencschmitt.

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