By Heidi Beer, NBC-HWC
Type 2 diabetes is more than just a chronic health condition—it touches every aspect of life. It shapes our physical well-being, influences our mental and emotional health, affects our energy levels and confidence, and even impacts our relationships with loved ones. While its complications and risks are well known, there is hope and the possibility for meaningful change.
This fall, Kinwell primary care is offering a new program for people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes created by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). The Lifestyle Empowerment Approach for Diabetes Remission (LEADR) program is a three-month program that can assist in making significant health improvements through a plant-based lifestyle, more movement throughout the day, restorative sleep, and the reduction of stress.
A new path to better health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 35 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Each year, this disease costs over $400 billion in direct expenses and lost productivity. Lifestyle changes can improve the quality of life for so many people. Wouldn’t it be great to have more energy, sleep better, and even feel better in your body?
The LEADR program is based on decades of research by the ACLM on the benefits of healthy habits in the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions. It’s the ACLM’s first program to use a healthy lifestyle as the primary strategy to treat type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and Kinwell is one of the first primary care networks in the country to offer it.
A therapeutic lifestyle
In the inaugural program this fall, 12 to 14 patients will meet once a week for three months. These shared medical appointments will occur online through a secure MyChart account. Each session will be packed with diabetes education, tips, exercises, discussion, inspiration, and support.
The program focuses on the key lifestyle habits that can start to place type 2 diabetes into remission, and fun and easy ways to follow a diet that improves health with no complicated calorie- or carb-counting.
Setting lifestyle goals
Each patient will receive a digital workbook and participate in lifestyle-building exercises designed to help them stay on track to reach their personal health goals. For example, in the first session, each patient will clarify their individual goals for the program and devise a strategy to reach them.
Subsequent sessions will address the lifestyle habits needed to reach this goal, using the SMART goal-setting process. This increases the odds of success by making goals Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Relevant, and Time-bound.
The group dynamic
These group medical appointments, led by Dr. Kathleen Tonti-Horne and me, leverage the camaraderie of patients who share the common goal of feeling better in their bodies through lifestyle changes. This will be a safe space for sharing experiences and ideas, being inspired by the stories of others, and drawing strength from others with the same goals and challenges.
Our current plans is to offer this program twice in 2026. For more information, reach out to your Kinwell clinician through your MyChart account or call 833-411-5469.
Heidi Beer is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She is based in Spokane and works with patients across Washington as part of Kinwell’s Lifestyle Medicine program.
