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YMCA says CBS 6 broadcasts on diabetes led to enrollment increase in Diabetes Control Program

Posted at 6:47 PM, Jan 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-04 20:02:50-05

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Over the last two months, CBS 6 has followed the health journey of a Chesterfield mother battling diabetes. Janet Espana enrolled and completed the YMCA's Diabetes Control Program. Now, the YMCA tells CBS 6 their enrollment has increased tremendously since the broadcasts aired.

YMCA  said they have received 31 new enrollments through their website since November 5, 2015. This doesn't include their enrollments by phone, which they are still calculating.

With the YMCA’s coaching students learn healthy eating habits, how to exercise, and they even take trips to the grocery store to learn the best ways to shop.

With the YMCA’s coaching students learn healthy eating habits, how to exercise, and they even take trips to the grocery store to learn the best ways to shop.

Espana spent 12 weeks in the YMCA program, learning how to control diabetes with proper eating habits and exercise. She was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes 10-years ago, but said she was determined to take control for her children.

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be controlled.

The YMCA’s coaching teaches healthy eating habits, how to exercise, and they even take trips to the grocery store to teach the best ways to shop.

“They realize it's not this huge scary thing, it is controllable and they can manage," said Caitlin Catella, the director of the Diabetes Programs of Greater Richmond.

Janet Espana

Janet Espana

Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, blindness, and even death. In fact, the American Diabetes Association says the disease causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and aids combined; still 8.1 million people don’t know they have it.

If you’d like more information on the YMCA’s 12 week diabetes program click here.