Have you or someone you know recently been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease or arthritis? What lifestyle changes will you need to make to manage your symptoms? A local workshop is here to help, Healthy U. It offers peer support and practical tips that help people manage their symptoms, save on health care costs and improve their quality of life.
Healthy U is a proven program developed by researchers at Stanford University. Locally, it is offered via small-group workshops that help participants better manage their chronic health conditions and avoid complications.
Participants meet once a week over 6 weeks to work with each other and a pair of trained facilitators to find (non-medical) ways to overcome the daily challenges brought on by chronic health conditions – fatigue, pain, isolation, confusion about medications, and worries about out-of-pocket medical costs. A key factor in Healthy U is peer support. Even the leaders live with chronic diseases themselves.
Healthy U participants receive a workbook and discuss topics including:
- How to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation
- Ways to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance
- Managing medications
- How to communicate more effectively with family, friends and health professionals
- Healthy eating
The program is for anyone with a chronic health condition. Caregivers are also welcome. There is a special Healthy U workshop for people with diabetes – although they can attend regular Healthy U workshops as well.
Cynthia Oglesby a Healthy U participant diagnosed with diabetes stated: “I was seeing a nutritionist, but I was so confused about what to eat on a daily basis. The Healthy U workshop really straightened me out. I learned how to plan meals around my disease.” For Cynthia Oglesby, the results were significant. She lost 12 pounds during the workshop and was able to reduce the amount of medication she was taking for her condition. Healthy U had such an impact on her life that she decided to receive training to become a Healthy U facilitator. She now leads workshops in Hamilton County.
Workshops in southwest Ohio are scheduled to start in March. Click here for the current schedule.