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:

• Be 18 years or older (Or aged 65+ for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program)
• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (23 or higher if you are Asian American).
• Not be previously diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• Not be pregnant

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:
  • American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
• Accessibility adaptations: 
  • Tips for serving adults with disabilities in DPP
• Topic(s):
  • Chronic Conditions
  • Medication Management
  • Diet & Nutrition
  • Exercise & Fitness

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