EPHRATA — People who might be at risk for diabetes are being invited to join a program that may help them avoid the disease. Columbia Basin Hospital is partnering with WSU-Grant/Adams County Extension to present the “Diabetes Prevention Program,” with the first meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. June 28 in the hospital’s main conference room. The hospital is located at 200 Nat Washington Way in Ephrata.

The program is designed for people who have been diagnosed as being at risk for Type 2 diabetes, according to information from the extension office. It is not for people who already have been diagnosed with diabetes, said coordinator Cynthia Rosenow. The goal is to help people in the program lose weight and increase physical activity, which reduces the risk of developing the disease, the press release said. People can cut their risk by as much as half, it said, by losing at least 7 percent of their body weight and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes a week.

People are eligible for the program if they have been diagnosed with prediabetes or have elevated blood sugars. Other qualifying factors include a family history of Type 2 diabetes, being overweight or limited physical activity, defined as fewer than three times per week. Women can qualify if they have had a child weighing more than 9 pounds, or contracted diabetes while pregnant. Participants must be 45 years of age or older.

The program also helps patients who are at risk for heart disease, the press release said.

Participants meet once per week for 12 weeks, using a curriculum approved by the Centers for Disease Control. Participants work with a coach to lose weight, manage stress and become more physically active. Part of the program involves the mutual support from others in the group.

After the initial 12-week session, the group continues with monthly and bimonthly meetings.

There is a fee, but some scholarships are available. People who want more information can contact Rosenow at the extension office, 509-765-2160, or the Grant County Courthouse, 509-754-2011, ext. 4313.

Hospital officials will also be releasing more information on the hospital’s “5-2-1-0 Ephrata Go” program, designed to reduce childhood obesity and “create a healthier Ephrata, from children to adults,” according to a press release from the hospital. The program actually begins in the fall, but more information will be available over the summer.

The goal will be to encourage children (and adults) to eat more fruits and vegetables, spend more time outside and less time at the computer or TV, and reduce consumption of sugary drinks.