Diabetes Lifestyle Program, BALANCE Program, Sponsored by Fitness First

Diabetes Lifestyle Program

Fitness First will be the Washington area sponsor of the first American BALANCE trial and they will be donating their Reston facility for the orientation and education sessions, as well as personal trainers to work with BALANCE participants. Fitness First will also be working with publicity for the program.

Facts/Info About Diabetes

An estimated 18.2 million people in the United States have diabetes.
Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism- the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy.
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. About 90-95% of diabetics have Type 2.
Not everyone with Type 2 is overweight, but the two main causes are lack of physical activity and obesity.
The symptoms for Type 2 Diabetes occur gradually. Symptoms include nausea, fatigue, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.

Early Intervention
If you diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, or at risk of diagnosis, seeking treatment is necessary. If you do not take care of this disease, other health problems may build up, such as dehydration, diabetic coma (not being able to replenish fluid losses- can develop a life-threatening complication), and damage to the body (heart attack and stroke). Other problems are blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure and amputations. There are many advantages to taking a pro-active approach. Take responsibility to make significant and lasting changes to preserve your good health.

What is BALANCE?
German pharmacist, Dr. Chalid Ashry, developed the BALANCE program. This program was designed to help those with Type 2 diabetes to help reverse the diagnosis, learn how to and live a healthier lifestyle. For more information on Dr. Ashry see below.

BALANCE is a one-year diet and exercise program designed to fight against Type 2 diabetes.
For those with metabolic syndrome or at risk with Type 2 diabetes this program helps prevent the disease.
This program uses doctor’s diagnosis and tests, a therapy/fitness center and nutritional advice to help monitor the health interests of each candidate.
The first trial of BALANCE was done in Germany, and this first American trial will begin November 1.

How does the BALANCE Program Work?

The key component to BALANCE is scientific education. Many people attempt lifestyle changes yet fail because the lack of knowledge of physiology and nutrition.
Fitness First is hosting this program, and you may go to any location to sign up and participate. If you already have a membership or attend another gym elsewhere, you can still participate in this program.
Fitness training with a Fitness First provided trainer (or a personally hired trainer), two one-hour sessions a week, for a year.
Self-measurements before and after exercise. (blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar) Measuring devices will be provided free of charge to the participants of this first American trial.
Talk with a nutritionist, Alana Sugar, and Dr. Ashry, BALANCE Director, for theoretical instruction and nutritional advice.
On going monitoring by Dr. Ashry of your progress.

Goals of the American Trial

To get 20-50 committed candidates for 1 year.
Help you lose an average of 2 lbs a month.
Reduce or eliminate the need for medication.
To attract media coverage to the BALANCE program through a public relations campaign.
We hope to publish the successful results of our trial in a prominent American medical journal.

Meet the BALANCE Team:

Dr. Chalid Ashry is a doctor of pharmaceutical chemistry in Germany. Several large firms in Germany are currently beginning to implement Balance for their employees. BARMER, Europe’s biggest Health insurance company, has contracted Dr. Ashry for the Balance diabetes prevention program. Their insured diabetics will get special offers in BALANCE-partner gyms, managed by a BALANCE-pharmacy. This is a pilot program in three big cities in the west of Germany. If it works (and it will), Barmer plans to expand to all of Germany, and will reach 7.000.000 Germans! A number of other German insurance companies are also looking to implement Balance for their members. Dr. Ashry is looking forward to bringing the Balance Trial to America, and is grateful to Fitness First for hosting the program.

Alana Sugar is a nutritionist in private practice in Northern Virginia for 12 years. She works teaching classes, facilitating seminars, consulting with individual clients, creating recipes, and writing articles. She structures her practice using a natural approach to good nutrition, focusing on a diet based primarily on whole and unprocessed foods as a necessary part of good health for life. Alana earned her C.N. degree from the National Institute of Nutritional Education in 1992. She teaches nutrition at area hospitals, law firms, and various government agencies. Her ongoing clients include the Federal Government, Whole Foods Market, and The American Institute for Cancer Research. - Alana Sugar, CN - Certified Nutritionist - Phone (703) 566-9862

Kimberly Hartke of Hartke Communications is the publicist for the American Balance trial. Kimberly and her husband, Keith are Fitness First members, and embarked upon their own diet and exercise lifestyle changes four years ago, and lost 50 lbs between them. Keith is now off blood pressure medication, and Kimberly has improved a debilitating knee condition to the point where she does not need drugs. Currently, she works as publicist for Sally Fallon-Morell, a leading advocate for solving health problems through nutrition education. Sally is the author of Nourishing Traditions Cookbook and the founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a 501c3 nutrition education non-profit. Kimberly will work during the trial to publicize the results through the media, and after the trial to help get the results published in medical journals. - Kimberly Hartke - Publicist - kimberly@hartkeonline.com - Phone (703) 860-2711