November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Are you familiar with the National Diabetes Prevention Program? Join Comagine Health over the next few weeks for a series of articles addressing this important initiative.
Let's start with the numbers. The statistics around type 2 diabetes in the U.S. are noteworthy:
- 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
- 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
- Without weight loss and moderate activity, 15-30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.
However, type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented. To begin to address the number of people in the U.S. who could develop type 2 diabetes, Congress authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program. National DPP is a structured, evidence-based lifestyle change program that can cut the risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
The National DPP is a year-long program that helps participants lose weight, adopt healthy habits and reduce risk for type 2 diabetes. Participants learn strategies to eat more healthfully, increase physical activity and manage stress. The 12-month program is facilitated by a trained lifestyle coach utilizing a CDC-approved curriculum focused on education, interactive group discussions and peer support. Courses can be delivered via the following modes: in-person, online, distance learning (delivered by a lifestyle coach using a virtual classroom or telehealth platform) or a combination of delivery modes.
Interested in determining your risk? Find out today by taking the one-minute assessment.
For more information about National DPP in your area, see the map here.