Diabetes Prevention

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a health condition in which one's blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with prediabetes are more likely than the general U.S. population to develop diabetes within five years and to have a heart attack or stroke. Lifestyle changes like eating more fruits and vegetables and being physically active for at least 150 minutes per week are proven to help reduce these risks.

A major challenge in preventing diabetes is the lack of public awareness. More than one in three adults in the United States have prediabetes. Of the people who have prediabetes, nearly nine out of 10 people don’t know it. Locally, the numbers are significantly higher. In San Diego County, nearly half of adults have prediabetes.

What is the National Diabetes Prevention Program?

The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes. The program translates research into real-life disease prevention strategies. People with prediabetes who take part in a National DPP can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% (71% for people over 60 years old). The National DPP has shown that eating healthier, increasing physical activity, losing seven to 10% of starting weight and managing stress, can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Developing support for National DPPs to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes encourages collaboration among our regions':

Community-based organizations
Employers
Insurers
Health care professionals
Government
Academic researchers
Other stakeholders

National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) in San Diego

Starting in 2015, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Divisions of Public Health Services (PHS) and Aging & Independence Services (AIS) began offering the National DPP in San Diego through the Healthy Works: Prevention Initiative. Major activities have included:

Building and convening a network of partners focused on promoting lifestyle change programs;
Implementing engagement strategies to increase awareness among at-risk San Diegans about the National DPP;
Expanding the network of local organizations that adopt and implement the National DPP; and
Securing sustainable funding for National DPP providers in the form of coverage by health insurance plans and local service providers.

For more information about the National DPP in San Diego and to access a list of local providers, visit the San Diego DPP website.

San Diego Diabetes Prevention Program Workgroup

The DPP Workgroup is creating a strategic plan to launch and scale up the National DPP. This will include:
Identifying potential providers and payers for the program
Creating a marketing plan to encourage enrollment
Providing guidance on ensuring that the program reaches priority high-risk populations such as African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and low-income adults.

For more information on the National DPP efforts in San Diego County, please contact Lisa Duke.