GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- The Diabetes Prevention Program at Central District Health Department (CDHD) in Grand Island aims to help you take charge of your health. 

According to Community Health Educator Laura Harlow, preventing Type 2 Diabetes is possible. She said that one in three people in America have pre-diabetes, but 80% of those people don’t know they have pre-diabetes.

The program they are offering the community is a free yearlong and it is remote. 

“You can access it anywhere anytime," Harlow said. "And we have weekly lessons with health coaches on healthy eating, how to monitor your physical activity, the goal of the program is to lose 5 to 7% of your body weight in one year and to maintain that weight loss.”

Harlow said there are some risk factors to look out for like being 45 years old or older, are overweight, have a family history of T2 Diabetes, aren’t physically active and if you have had gestational diabetes.

Harlow said it is important to regularly monitor your health.

“Because diabetes is one of the worst chronic diseases in the world, actually, and it has many complications and it is very costly," Harlow said. "You want to prevent it as much as possible.”

The classes will start Jan. 16, and if you’re interested call the CDHD to register and ask for Laura.