Facts About the National DPP

CDC currently funds six national organizations to help establish a network of lifestyle change programs across the country. In addition, these organizations work to market the programs to increase awareness, referrals, and enrollment and educate employers and insurers about the value and benefit of offering these programs as a covered health benefit for employees and insured members.

CDC also funds state and local health departments to support diabetes prevention efforts.

• Under State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health (CDC-RFA-DP13-1305), all 50 states and the District of Columbia are working to increase awareness of prediabetes among health care providers and people at risk. Forty-nine of these states are also supporting efforts to increase referrals to CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs and to promote these programs as a covered benefit for public employees and Medicaid beneficiaries.
• State and Local Public Health Actions to Prevent Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease (CDC-RFA-DP14-1422) intensifies work in 17 state and 4 large city health departments to support diabetes prevention through a combination of policy, system, and environmental changes coupled with efforts to scale and sustain the National Diabetes Prevention Program at both the state and community levels. Emphasis is placed on increasing prediabetes screening and detection; enrolling vulnerable, high-risk populations in CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs; and working to increase employer and insurer coverage of these programs.

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Through the National DPP, hundreds of organizations nationwide offer CDC-recognized diabetes prevention lifestyle change programs, including online programs.

These programs are offered in health care clinics, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, pharmacies, wellness centers, worksites, cooperative extension offices, university-based continuing education programs, and other places throughout the community.

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CDC and the American Medical Association (AMA) are working together to encourage health care professionals to refer patients with prediabetes to CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs, and they created a toolkit [PDF - 1.29MB] to make it easier for health practices to incorporate screening, testing, and referrals.

Because 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have it, CDC has partnered with AMA and the American Diabetes Association to begin a nationwide public awareness campaign.

In addition, because of the efforts of National DPP partners, several states and many companies of all sizes now provide lifestyle change programs as covered health benefits to their employees, helping to make these interventions more affordable for participants. To see examples, visit Join Your Peers—Lead the Way.

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CDC has signed memoranda of understanding with organizations who serve as training organizations for lifestyle coaches and master trainers.

These organizations have trained thousands of lifestyle coaches nationwide. The coaches and others trained through CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs have helped tens of thousands of people reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.

Find a list of training organizations in Staffing and Training.

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Through the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program, CDC evaluates lifestyle change programs to be sure they meet evidence-based standards to achieve expected results.

CDC also collects data from lifestyle change programs to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness.

To learn more, read the CDC Recognition Program Standards and Operating Procedures [PDF - 727KB].

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