The Montana Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Prevention Project uses the intensive lifestyle change intervention component of the national Diabetes Prevention Project (DPP), a study evaluating the effectiveness of weight loss and increased activity on diabetes prevention. The DPP has reduced the risk of diabetes among program participants by 58 percent through the program’s intensive lifestyle intervention program.

The CMC program will work with participants to achieve 7 percent weight loss through a reduction in the intake of fat grams and establishment of a daily calorie count of 1,200 to 2,000. Participants will also participate in physical activity 150 minutes per week.

CMC’s Marge Samsoe and Shirley Schneiter have been selected as lifestyle coaches for the new CMC program. Samsoe, an exercise physiologist and certified diabetes educator, has 29 years of experience in diabetes education and cardiac rehabilitation. Schneiter, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, has 30 years of experience in a variety of nutrition and lifestyle programs. The grant was awarded to CMC through the collaborative efforts of Samsoe and Schneiter, along with CMC endocrinologists Nancy Eyler, M.D., and Michele Danicich, M.D.

In addition to the CMC program, grant monies were also awarded to programs at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena and Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City. The program is under way at CMC with 100 participants thus far. For more information on the program, contact Samsoe or Schneiter at 327-4326.

Marge Samsoe

Michele Danicich, MD

Nancy Eyler, MD

Shirley Schneiter