Hy-Vee ties new diabetes lifestyle management program to on-site dietitians

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee on Friday announced it now offers a Begin for Diabetes lifestyle management program, in addition to its existing Begin and Begin 4 Kids programs. All three options are led by registered dietitians in Hy-Vee’s 244 stores across its eight-state region.



“About 29 million Americans have diabetes and managing the disease can come with a significant learning curve,” stated Kristin Williams, SVP and chief health officer at Hy-Vee. “Our registered dietitians are here to help educate and support program participants on their journey to making their lives healthier and happier.”



Hy-Vee’s Begin program provides building blocks for weight management through detailed journals and recommendations for healthier eating, including biometric screenings. More than 15,000 individuals have completed the 10-week lifestyle management program. The company also offers a four-week Begin 4 Kids program that emphasizes food groups, activity and eating for good health, along with the Hy-Vee KidsFit program and website that encourages children to get excited about moving and exercise.



“Whether the goal is to prevent or manage a diabetes diagnosis, lead a healthier lifestyle or ensure children learn about healthy eating habits and exercise, Hy-Vee is committed to optimizing each customer’s well-being at every life stage,” Williams added.



Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three adult Americans, or 86 million people, have pre-diabetes and nine out of 10 of them do not know they have it. To further address this epidemic, Hy-Vee recently launched a pilot initiative in 50 stores that helps pre-diabetic individuals lead healthier lives. The intent is that this pre-diabetic program will also be rolled out to all Hy-Vee stores in the near future.