This is the first of a four-part series in connection with November's National Diabetes Month. The goal is to increase awareness and education about prediabetes/diabetes, as well as proven prevention programs.

Betsy Bielak wasn’t going for a health overhaul.

A few months after retiring, Betsy, 63, sought small improvements to help reduce her A1C level. She wasn’t significantly overweight and already had a healthy regimen. Yet, her A1C level – an indicator of prediabetes and a precursor to Type 2 diabetes ­­– was, in her words, “a genetic bad draw.”

U-M Puts the ‘Health’ in Health Plans

Because she’s enrolled in a U-M health plan, the Northville resident had an advantage. She began participating in a free Diabetes Prevention Program in partnership with Omada Health. The program offered a wireless scale, an all-online format for tracking her progress, weekly lessons, and even personal coaches.

“There really is a person who’s interested in what I want to gain from this [program],” Betsy said. “I wasn’t just a number.”

A Tweak Here and There…

Her coaches offered suggestions when Betsy wanted to fine-tune meal selections. They reminded her that snow shoveling and raking leaves were physical activities. And they led discussions with others in the program so Betsy could glean healthy tips and share her own.

“Through the lessons, I became more focused on what I was eating and why,” Betsy said.  “Do I really want that piece of candy? Am I bored? Thirsty? I started making sure I ate three meals. When I had a snack, I looked at the substance of it.”

With small, sustainable changes, Betsy’s A1C has decreased. She’s incorporated a few vital tweaks into her lifestyle to continue her progress. “I don’t look at this as a diet,” she said. “It’s a live-it. It’s something I’m going to live with.”

She still checks in with her coaches and engages in group discussion. Omada’s support will continue for another year before she’ll be considered a graduate of the program.

Betsy’s (Not-So) Secret Weapons

Which tools helped Betsy the most?

• The digital scale. Each day, Betsy followed her numbers online. She aspired to steady progress - and was able to correct herself if she backtracked a bit. “There was always tomorrow,” she said.
• Physical activity. Her activity was tracked in a graphic that looked like a circle. The more she did, the more complete the circle became. “I was pretty driven to get that full circle!” Betsy laughed.
• Coaching. Betsy’s two coaches helped her evaluate her meal selections to incorporate foods to course-correct her A1C. And their lessons always ended with an actionable challenge. “We’d discuss greens, and the challenge would be, ‘how are you going to get more greens in your day?’” Betsy said.  

You can embark on your own journey toward better health. One in three adults in the U.S. already has prediabetes, and most aren’t aware of it. Take the one-minute quiz below to see if you’re at risk:

I’m at Risk… Now What?

Both of U-M’s Diabetes Prevention Programs are free and open to benefits-eligible employees and their dependents:

• Diabetes Prevention Program through Omada Health - for Community Blue PPO, Comprehensive Major Medical, GradCare and U-M Premier Care members
• Diabetes Prevention Program through the Diabetes Prevention Center - for Michigan Care members

For more information about prediabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and more, review National Diabetes Month resources and calls to action.