Telehealth for Schools
Lifestyle Change Program
You have the power to improve your health.
What is Lifestyle Change?
Every day, we make choices that affect our health in the long run. Our choices about food, sleep, exercise and self-care all play a role. Together, they make up our lifestyle. Making changes to our lifestyle can improve our health if we stick with them. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, easing stress, getting restful sleep, quitting addictive substances, and nurturing social connections all help make our bodies healthier and our lives better. It’s not a quick fix, though. Lifestyle changes takes time and require support, planning, and commitment.
The Lifestyle Change Diabetes Prevention Program for Youth
The Lifestyle Change Program teaches high school students at risk for type 2 diabetes simple steps that, over time, can help them manage their weight and lower their chances of getting the disease.
The program includes:
- Daily texts with health information designed for students. Students without a smartphone can borrow a mobile device while they are in the program.
- Tips and information to help parents support their child’s behavior changes.
- Health coaching sessions with trained school nurses and counselors.
To learn more about the Lifestyle Change Diabetes Prevention Program for Youth, email ikids@umc.edu.
For Schools
We train school nurses and counselors to be CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Coaches, helping students learn and maintain behaviors that can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
For Students
We send students information on their smartphones about lifestyle changes they can make to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
For Parents
We provide parents with resources to support children engaging in the Lifestyle Change Program.