SIDNEY — Ohio YMCAs, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), and Medical Mutual of Ohio have teamed to offer the YMCA’s diabetes prevention program in 2017 to OPERS pre-Medicare retirees and dependents enrolled in the OPERS Medical Mutual Plan.

This program is available at no cost to Medical Mutual participants and available at local Ohio YMCAs. The program will help those at risk for type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and reduce their chances of developing the disease.

The YMCA’s diabetes prevention program is based on the diabetes prevention program funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which showed the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 58 percent overall and by 71 percent in adults over 60.

In a classroom setting, a trained lifestyle coach helps program participants change their lifestyles by learning about healthy eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over the course of the program. Topics covered include portion sizes, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated and more. Participants don’t have to be YMCA members.

For information, visit ohioymcadiabetesprevention.org.

The next diabetes prevention class being offered at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA begins March 20.