This document advocates for implementing a diabetes prevention program for seniors similar to one offered by the YMCA in Ohio. It summarizes that type 2 diabetes is prevalent among seniors and costs a significant amount to treat. The YMCA program helps pre-diabetic participants make lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes through diet and exercise. The author argues such a program should be made available to all seniors through insurance coverage to help reduce diabetes rates and costs.

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Advocacy Paper
Kyla Andre
Alvernia University
March 5, 2015

2. ADVOCACY PAPER 2
Seniors are classified as anyone fifty-five years of age or older. A prevalent
disease among seniors and many adults is type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a commonly
known disease. It is a chronic disease that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar.
This disease has no cure. There are only ways to manage it. Throughout my paper I will
be advocating for seniors with type 2 diabetes, to receive a program about prevention and
treatment covered by their insurance.
Insurance companies need to be aware of the programs that are being paid for. A
tremendous amount of money is spent on diabetes through Medicare. Therefore the
money can be redistributed to pay for the programs to prevent diabetes. In 2012,
according to the American Diabetes Association, $245 billion dollars was spent on
diabetes. Hospital inpatient care, medications, supplies, office visits, and facility stays
were the largest areas of cost. Awareness to seniors can be addressed through programs,
which provide them with prevention strategies. The senior’s family members would be
involved, so they can provide support at home.
In Ohio, the YMCA has a program for diabetes prevention. The program is for
seniors who are pre-diabetics. The program is offered at all YMCA locations in Ohio. It
is “evidence based on a 12 month program that provides a supportive environment
beginning with 16 weekly sessions followed by monthly sessions led by a trained life
coach.” The program provides participants with the tools to learn and maintain a healthy
lifestyle in order to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. Participants learn to eat healthy
and perform plenty of physical activity. The participants are given a goal to reduce their
body weight by the end of the program. Since the YMCA has their own gym, a

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membership for 3 months is provided to the patients in the program. The program has
qualifications the patients must meet. They include the following:
Participants must be at least 18 years old. Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or
above 25. Hemogloban A1c level between 5.7-6.4%, or fasting Plasma Glucose
between 100-125 mg/dL, or a 2-hour (75 gm glucola) Plasma Glucose between
140-199 mg/dL. The program is covered for Medicare Part A & B, Medicare
Advantage and United Health Care members. Private Pay is also available.
“Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program
MAY be eligible to participate in the program at no cost. There is no cost for the program
for fully insured United Health Care Members who qualify.” Therefore, if the participant
has insurance, the program is possibly covered. This program is excellent, but should be
modified so that anyone can participant free of charge or at a minimum charge. This
program should be made available in more states.
The strategic plan of advocating for seniors with diabetes is to implement a
program like the one in Ohio, here in Berks County. The program should be available to
any senior who has the possibility of developing diabetes. The insurance companies
would cover the program for anyone who is insured. A local gym has a membership with
the program that would be held at a local senior community. There would be a record of
how many pre-diabetic seniors are no longer at risk for diabetes within a year of
participating in the program. This program is achievable as long as the insurance and
Medicare approves it. The program will be realistic with the redirection of money
through Medicare and help from donations of the community. Overall, the testing of the
program would be three years.

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In the article, Global Prevalence of Diabetes, the projections for individuals of all
ages to have diabetes in 2030 is to rise to 366 million internationally. During the research
the population with the most increase was the elderly. In the U.S., 30.3 million people are
expected to have diabetes. Diabetes is not just a national problem; it is also an
international problem. Therefore, it needs to be addressed and prevented.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) did a study to see if weight loss through
a change of diet, and increased physical activity or treatment with the drug Glucophage
could reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes. The participants were from ages 45-67,
overweight, and had high blood glucose levels, which is known as pre-diabetes. The
participants that lost weight and increased their physical activity lowering their chance of
developing diabetes. “Pre-diabetes is becoming more common in the United States.” The
DPP reports that anyone “without symptoms but are overweight or obese and have one or
more additional risk factors for diabetes, be tested. In those without these risk factors
should be tested beginning at age 45.” Diabetes is a serious and common disease. The
long-term affects are life threatening. Therefore it is crucial to provide a program to help
prevent those who are pre-diabetic from being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
In 2013, Senators Al Franken, Susan Collins, and Jay Rockefeller, and
representative Susan Davis sponsored the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act of 2013.
This act “provides Medicare coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program
(national DPP) to eligible beneficiaries at high risk for type 2 diabetes.” Positively this
act will decrease government spending on diabetes medical care by $1.3 billion over a
ten-year span. This act allows the national DPP to provide programs in the community

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for seniors at a low cost rate of less than $300. This act is helping provide programs for
pre-diabetics on a national level.
Actor Wilford Brimley is a spokesperson for diabetes. He is known for the liberty
medical commercial where he shares his personal story of being diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. News broadcasts are not covering enough information about diabetes. They are
not discussing the racial inequalities. African Americans pose a higher risk of diabetes
than white. They are also at a higher risk of amputation due to poverty and lower income.
News broadcasts should discuss more about the long-term complications of type 2
diabetes such as kidney failure.
The audience I am advocating to would be pre-diabetic seniors and their families.
Their families should be aware of what is going on so they can help support the senior
throughout the program. My message for advocating would be saving the lives of
diabetics through prevention programs.
Finally, type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that can be life threatening and should
be prevented. A way of prevention is through programs that provide lifestyle changes
including physical activity and a healthy diet. Even though individuals are pre-diabetic,
there is a chance for them to become diabetes risk free. Methods include a fact sheet,
which is attached at the end.

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Bibliography
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