CHICAGO — One medical doctor’s group out of the University of Chicago is using the power of the prescription pad to get people with Type 2 Diabetes on the right track to better health.

Using a “back the basics” method with good communication and patient outings, The South Side Diabetes Project aims to keep people off of medication whenever possible.  Type 2 diabetes is largely considered a lifestyle disease. Chipping away at bad habits the old fashioned way is the goal.

Doctors, volunteers, educators in food and exercise work within the community and side by side with diabetes patients or those on the cusp of a diagnosis.

The South Side Diabetes Project has six clinics, two of them on the University of Chicago campus where “at risk” patients living with or worried about a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis can take classes, get training, essentially learn how to control and manage their diet and exercise to stave off the disease.

In this case, the research shows that diet actually works better than drugs.

There are also tours at local places like Walgreens and Save-A-Lot stores as well as  visits with medical doctors to a local farmer`s market.  It’s all in an effort change bad eating habits.

And it typically starts with a paper prescription from a U of C doctor working at one of the clinics. There is a psychological component in play is  the power of the prescription pad.

Doctors say the program communicated with patients differently, more easily, and working with them physically in the community makes an impact.

For more information log on to: http://southsidediabetes.com/