FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic opens registration for LEADR diabetes remission program

The FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic is now accepting registrations for a 12-week program beginning Aug. 26 designed to help individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes improve their health through sustainable lifestyle changes.

Developed by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), the Lifestyle Empowerment Approach for Diabetes Remission (LEADR) is a structured, group-based program that gives participants the knowledge, skills and support to improve blood sugar control and, for some individuals, achieve diabetes remission.

The curriculum focuses on addressing the root causes of type 2 diabetes through the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: a healthy eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, positive social connections and avoidance of risky substances. Rather than managing symptoms, the program empowers participants to make sustainable lifestyle changes that can improve blood sugar control and, for some individuals, support diabetes remission.

The program is offered at the FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, a clinical practice of the Florida State University College of Nursing, and the nation’s first college-based, nurse practitioner-led, lifestyle medicine clinic.

“One of the things I love most about the LEADR program is that it truly puts the patient in the driver’s seat of their own health,” said Kathleen P. Wilson, assistant dean of graduate programs for the FSU College of Nursing and provider at the FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic. “Lifestyle medicine is built on shared decision making. We work alongside each participant to understand their goals and develop strategies using the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. Our role is to educate, encourage and guide, while empowering individuals to make choices that create meaningful, lasting improvements in their health.”

The principles of lifestyle medicine can benefit everyone, regardless of where they are in their health journey, Wilson said.

“While anyone can benefit from learning the foundations of healthy living, we’ve seen individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes experience remarkable long-term improvements through this program,” she said. “LEADR gives people the education, accountability and community support they need to make changes that can positively impact their health for years to come.”

As one of the few providers in the region offering the ACLM-developed LEADR curriculum, the FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic is helping expand access to evidence-based lifestyle medicine for residents of Tallahassee, Leon County and surrounding communities. The program reflects the clinic’s ongoing commitment to empowering individuals to prevent, manage and even reverse chronic disease through education, wellness and sustainable behavior change.

To help community members learn more before enrolling in the program, the clinic will host a free LEADR program preview on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. The informational session will provide an overview of the program, what participants can expect and how lifestyle medicine can help improve long-term health. There is no cost to attend the preview, but registration is required as space is limited.

The new LEADR cohort begins Wednesday, Aug. 26, and will meet Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. for 12 consecutive weeks at the FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, 1630 Riggins Rd., Tallahassee.

Individuals interested in attending the free preview event or registering for the August cohort are encouraged to complete the program interest form available on the clinic’s website.

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