2 minute read
Healthy Connection
By Lisa Ramirez Lisa Ramirez is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Lead of the Center for Health Improvement at Cox Monett Hospital. She enjoys camping, biking, hiking, and spending time with her husband and 2-year old daughter.
Live Your Best Life
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What comes to mind when you think of healthy living? It may seem hard or overwhelming to think about, but it is so important to your overall health! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes type 2 diabetes as a serious health concern for many Americans. Over 88 million U.S. adults (1 in 3) have prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, though not yet type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, you may develop type 2 diabetes without healthy lifestyle changes. The good news is that prediabetes is reversible, and there are resources to help. Cox Monett Hospital and Missouri University Extension have teamed up to offer a CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program, Prevent T2 Monett, to support your health goals and encourage you to live your best life. As we close out another year, we want to ensure you celebrate your best life by learning to live healthier. Working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes is a way to take care of yourself so you can keep enjoying what you love most. To find out your risk for developing type 2 diabetes or to register for Prevent T2 Monett, visit
partners.habitnu.com/cox-health:
Prevent T2 Monett offers classes in English and Spanish. Already living with diabetes? Cox Monett offers a Diabetes Self-Management Education program for those diagnosed with diabetes to learn skills to manage the disease and prevent complications. Know someone who could benefit from assistance with their diabetes care? Our annual Dining for Diabetes fundraiser raises money for those in Southwest Missouri needing assistance with diabetes education, medications, supplies, and related services. To get involved in this year’s virtual silent auction running December 3-10, visit coxhealthfoundation.com/ event/dining. For more information on Prevent T2 Monett, the Diabetes Self-Management Education program, or Dining for Diabetes assistance, please call the Cox Monett Center for Health Improvement at 417-354-1280.
How can the lifestyle change program help you? In this yearlong program you’ll learn about:
• Your risk for type 2 diabetes and ways to prevent or delay it, • Small food changes that keep you healthier and still allow you to enjoy the foods you love, • Strategies for managing stress, which is often a big cause of health issues, • Ways to get moving that don’t involve intense workouts or hours in the gym, • What motivates you to keep going on your journey to better health?
