Key Takeaways

  • There are 96 million American adults who have prediabetes, or 1 in 3 adults.

  • The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) provides the opportunity for people with prediabetes or at risk for type 2 diabetes to participate in evidence-based, affordable, and high-quality lifestyle change programs.

  • These Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recognized programs help older adults reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) works to make it easier for people with prediabetes to participate in affordable, high-quality lifestyle change programs to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health.

Through the National DPP, partner organizations are able to:

  • Deliver CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs nationwide
  • Ensure quality and adherence to proven standards
  • Train community organizations that can run the lifestyle change program effectively
  • Increase referrals to and participation in CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs
  • Increase coverage by employers and public and private insurers

All CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs follow a CDC-approved curriculum and discuss the same topics over the year. But, lifestyle coaches will adapt the sessions to match the group’s background, interests, and needs. 

  • Target audience: 

To participate in a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program, participants need to meet ALL 4 of these requirements:

You’ll also need to meet 1 of these requirements (unless you are enrolling in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, which has different criteria):

  • Had a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year (includes any of these tests and results):
    • Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7–6.4%.
    • Fasting plasma glucose: 110–125 mg/dL.
    • 2-hour plasma glucose (after a 75 g glucose load): 140–199 mg/dL.
  • Be previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
  • Received a high-risk result (score of 5 or higher) on the Prediabetes Risk Test.
  • Health outcomes
    • Participants who lost 5-7% of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58% (71% for people over 60 years old).​​​​​
    • A decade later, participants were one-third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than individuals who did not join a program.
    • Participation has been found to lower the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, improve your health, help you feel more energetic, and reverse a prediabetes diagnosis.
  • Delivered by: Trained Lifestyle Coach
  • Program type: Group
  • Format: In-person in community setting or online
  • Length: 1 year (Weekly meetings for the first 6 months, monthly or bimonthly meetings for the last six months.)
  • Training: Lifestle Coach and Advanced Lifestyle Coach training are available in-person or online
  • Professional required: No
  • Available in languages other than English: Yes, there’s also a Spanish-language curriculum, so some programs are offered completely in Spanish.
  • Cultural adaptations:
  • Accessibility adaptations: 
  • Topic(s):
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Medication Management
    • Diet & Nutrition
    • Exercise & Fitness

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