Renee Bond Smiling
Renee Bond wasn’t expecting to change her life. She was simply scrolling through Facebook, passing time like any other afternoon, when a post from Intermountain Health St. James Hospital caught her eye. It was about their Healthy Lifestyles class, part of the Diabetes Prevention Program, and a headline that hit a little too close to home.
In Montana, just over 7% of the adult population has been diagnosed with diabetes, with 136 million Americans having diabetes or being pre-diabetic.
With a strong family history of diabetes, Bond always carried a quiet awareness of the disease. “My dad and grandpa both had diabetes,” she said. “Watching my grandpa struggle through it was devastating.” She had made a silent promise to herself back then that if she ever faced the same risk, she’d do everything she could to take care of her body. So, she reached out to St. James about the program.
The news of her results came as a surprise. “I had no idea I was pre-diabetic until I was told that I qualified for the class,” Bond said. That moment was a wake-up call. She knew it was time to take her health into her own hands.
The St. James Diabetes Prevention Program is a comprehensive, year-long program designed to help individuals at risk for diabetes and heart disease make lasting lifestyle changes and prevent the development of life-altering chronic health problems. The program follows a curriculum from the National Diabetes Association. Participants receive support and education on stress management, healthy eating, and physical activity.
Now, Bond is a familiar face, meeting weekly with her class at the Southwest Montana Community Health Center and with Joe Riordan, a dietitian at the hospital who has been by her side since the beginning of her journey. Together, they flip through her “blue book” – a simple but powerful tool each participant uses to track their daily meals. For Bond, it’s more than just a log.
“When I write it down, I can see it,” she said. “It makes me more confident in myself and the work I’m doing.”
This is Bond’s second time through the program, and her experience shows. She’s become a leader in the group, offering insights, encouragement, and a sense of community that others gravitate toward. Riordan sees it every week.
“Renee is always the first to chime in when someone has a question,” he said. “She brings so much value to the group because she’s been through it. Her openness creates a space where others feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their own stories.”
Riordan, who was recently awarded the Rising Star Award during the Montana Department of Health and Human Services Annual Diabetes Professional Conference in October, explained how rewarding it is to help patients like Bond gain control over their nutrition habits for long-term change.
“I’ve been interested in nutrition since I was 14,” said Riordan, recounting the moments when he realized he could help others with his passion. “Ultimately it’s why I do my job – because it’s clear I’m making a difference.”
The program covers nutrition, exercise, and sustainable lifestyle changes, but both Bond and Riordan agree that the real magic happens in the conversations when participants learn from each other, celebrate small victories, and build something bigger than themselves.
“There’s a huge difference from the first day to the last,” Riordan reflected. “Watching people grow in their understanding of nutrition and seeing them teach it back – it’s incredibly rewarding.”
For Bond, the reward is deeply personal. Her A1C, a key marker of blood sugar levels, dropped from 6.1 to 5.6, a tangible sign of her progress and commitment.
“Two years and no medication,” said Bond, her face lighting up with pride. “I’m down to where I want to be. – It’s proof that the work I’m doing is paying off.”
Bond’s story is one of quiet strength, community, and transformation. What started as a casual scroll through social media became the first step in a journey that changed her life and now, she’s helping others change theirs too.
For registration information on the Healthy Lifestyle classes at St. James, please call 406-723-2960 or visit https://www.sclhealth.org/classes-events/stjames/healthy-lifestyles/.