HELPcare Challenge is Available Anywhere!

By Lee Aase • April 22, 2025

I got to know Dave deBronkart (a.k.a. ePatient Dave) when I was leading Mayo Clinic's social media program, and as I took early retirement from Mayo to start HELPcare we've stayed in touch and he signed up for a website account to get our periodic email newsletter updates.

One of those newsletters prompted him to join our most recent HELPcare Challenge, even though he lives more than 1,300 miles away from any HELPcare Clinic location.

Here's what Dave had to say about his HELPcare Challenge experience in our latest edition of HELPcare Herald:

I’ve been a remote participant in the HELPCare Challenge from my home in New Hampshire, and it’s been empowering and effective. I heard about the program through Lee Aase, a cofounder I’ve admired for years since his time at the Mayo Clinic. Facing a recurring struggle with maintaining a healthy weight and noticing my A1c creeping back to 5.7, I decided to take action to reverse my prediabetes as I’d done in 2015.

The class isn’t finished but I’ve already lost 13 pounds without strenuous exercise. Now I’ve started incorporating harder workouts, partly inspired by the motivating group environment. 

The class is a balance of supportive weekly Zooms and personalized one-on-one coaching calls. The group sessions remind me I’m not alone in this journey, and the individual coaching gives me the space to dive into my personal questions without disrupting the class. I also like that the comprehensive lab tests (not cheap) included in the program help me track my progress in real, measurable ways.

Importantly, I learned that people’s bodies respond differently to foods, so as a side note I decided to also go buy one of the new consumer-grade CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) that don’t require a prescription. It’s given me valuable insights into how I personally react to carbs, something I likely would never have explored without the program’s effect on my thinking..

Make no mistake: this program is a real commitment. It’s not some free online “show up if you feel like it” course but a program with professional coaching, lab tests, and a professionally developed curriculum. If you’re ready to put in the work, I can tell you that even at age 75, it's working for me!

Learn more about HELPcare Challenge and about Jane Connell, our registered dietitian and health coach who designed and runs the program, through these two recent episodes of our podcast, Take Charge with HELPcare:

As Dave has shown, you can participate in HELPcare Challenge no matter where you live, because we can find alternative locations for your before and after testing that is included in the program. You get:

  • Blood tests and other metabolic health measurements that would cost more than $1,500 if you got them through the insurance-based system
  • 13 weeks of small group gatherings via Zoom for learning and mutual support
  • One-on-one coaching and individualized guidance customized to your needs
  • A 100% money-back guarantee if HELPcare Challenge doesn't work to help you improve your health!

Our next 13-week HELPcare Challenge cohort starts May 6, so learn more and sign up now!, or call 507-418-8465 to discuss with our Challenge Coordinator.

Lee Aase

Lee Aase is the founder of HELPcare LLC, which provides comprehensive membership, marketing and management services for provider-owned HELPcare Clinics, as well as metabolic health education and coaching for people interested in restoring health and reversing disease through lifestyle changes. Lee and his wife Lisa live in Austin, MN and have six married children and 19 grandchildren.
Please sign in or register to post a reply.