LIFTT is excited to announce that LIFTT has been awarded a grant from the State of Montana to implement the DECIDE (Diabetes Education and Empowerment) Self-Management Program — a nationally recognized initiative to help individuals better understand and manage diabetes. Through this partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, LIFTT is expanding its health support services to reach more people living with prediabetes, type 1, or type 2 diabetes across southeastern Montana.
What is the DECIDE Program?
DECIDE is designed to help adults take charge of their health through small group sessions focused on:
- Understanding diabetes and its impact
- Nutrition and meal planning
- Physical activity strategies
- Managing stress and building confidence
- Communicating effectively with health care providers
The program is structured, evidence-based, and emphasizes real-life skills that make a difference in day-to-day living with diabetes. Participants complete surveys and assessments before and after the sessions to help measure progress and outcomes.
Why This Matters
Montana’s rural and frontier communities face unique health care challenges. Many of our consumers don’t have easy access to long-term diabetes education programs. Some face transportation barriers, while others may not have access to a registered dietitian or diabetes educator in their area. The DECIDE program helps fill that gap by offering support where it’s most needed — locally, accessibly, and compassionately.
At LIFTT, we already provide Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) classes and help with Medicaid, Social Security, and home modification grant applications. Now, thanks to this new grant, we can reach even more people, especially those who can’t participate in the full-year DPP model.
Who Will Lead the Program?
The DECIDE Program will be facilitated by our Nutritional Health Coaches: Anya Pulis, B.S. in Kinesiology, and Eileen Rodriguez, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Both Anya and Eileen have experience running wellness classes like Tai Chi, SAIL (Staying Active and Independent for Life), and strength training. They are passionate about helping our community live healthier, more independent lives.
Serving Those Most at Risk
LIFTT proudly serves a wide range of people who are statistically at higher risk for diabetes, including:
- Older adults
- Veterans
- Medicaid recipients
- People with disabilities
- American Indian communities
- Residents of rural and low-income areas
The DECIDE program will help ensure these populations don’t fall through the cracks.
What Comes Next?
Our team is currently undergoing training and certification through DECIDE, and we’ll be launching our first DECIDE sessions later this year. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes and could benefit from this program, please contact LIFTT’s Nutritional Health Coaches, Anya Pulis at (406) 606-1766, anyap@liftt.org, and Eileen Rodrigiuz at (406) 294-5185, elieenr@liftt.org
We’re proud to be part of this statewide effort to reduce the burden of diabetes and improve health outcomes for Montanans. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for supporting our mission to help people live independently today and tomorrow.
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.