Taking charge of her health: Michelle’s journey with prediabetes

A long-time CDPHP® member, Michelle Abel of Colonie, NY knows the importance of taking care of her health.

When it comes to using her health plan benefits, Michelle has always been an advocate for herself and others. “My colleagues and I regularly check in with each other to make sure we’re taking advantage of programs like the CDPHP® Health Hub and the Personal Health Assessment (PHA).”

At a health fair, Michelle saw a flyer about a diabetes prevention program she was eligible for through her CDPHP health plan that provides lifestyle improvement tools and resources to help you stay in control of your health. She knew she was at risk of diabetes due to her family history and decided, “I need to take action.”

At first, she was hesitant, but by the time she started the program, she had just learned from her doctor that she had prediabetes—so the timing couldn’t have been more important.

Michelle learned about sustainable weight loss, being more active, healthy eating, emotional and mental resilience, and maintaining and reinforcing her new healthy behaviors.

She is still going strong and seeing results. “I’ve lost 13 pounds and am just two pounds away from my goal. My cholesterol has gone down, and I’ve been able to maintain my progress.”

Michelle is sure to get about 150 minutes of exercise each week and uses her health plan resources to track it. “I’ve learned how small habits make a big difference—like going for a walk after meals to help manage my glucose.” She even keeps sneakers under her desk at work as a reminder to get moving.

“I’ve always been proactive about my health and keep up with regular doctor visits, but CDPHP has given me the structure, support, and motivation to take things to the next level.”

Do you know if you’re at risk? Take this one-minute quiz to find out so you can reverse prediabetes before it becomes type 2 diabetes.

Learn more about the resources CDPHP offers to help members with diabetes prevention, as well as resources for members with prediabetes or diabetes.

Already a CDPHP member? Log in to your online member account to see what benefits you have available.