SCRANTON, PA — The Wright Center for Community Health, in partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC) and Quality Insights, is offering the National Diabetes Prevention Program. The 26-session, evidence-based lifestyle modification program helps individuals with prediabetes lower their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The first session is on Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. The program will meet weekly for the first six months, followed by bi-weekly or monthly sessions for the remaining six months. To qualify for the program, participants must be 18 or older; have a body mass index, commonly known as BMI, of 25 or higher (23 or higher for Asian-American patients); have no prior diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or end-stage kidney disease; and cannot be pregnant. Participants must also meet at least one of the following:

Had a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year (includes any of these tests and results):

Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent

Fasting plasma glucose: 100-125 mg/dL

Two-hour plasma glucose (after a 75g glucose load): 140-199 mg/dL

Be previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)

Received a high-risk result (score of 5 or higher) on a prediabetes risk test at www.cdc.gov/prediabetes/risktest/index.html.

Anyone who qualifies for the program and is interested in enrolling in the in-person classes or a virtual component can contact Melissa Germano at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org or 570/892-8598.

To make an appointment or for more information, visit www.TheWrightCenter.org or call 570/342-5353.