National Diabetes Prevention Program

Prevalence of Prediabetes  

In the U.S., nearly 98 million adults have prediabetes, but 80% of them don’t know they have it. Risk factors include being over the age of 45, having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, and not being physically active.  

About the National Diabetes Prevention Program

The National DPP is a nationwide partnership aimed at reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. A key component of the National DPP is the lifestyle change program, an evidence-based program designed to prevent type 2 diabetes. Established by the CDC, it helps participants adopt healthier habits through nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral coaching. 

The National DPP lifestyle change program utilizes: 

• A CDC-approved curriculum that supports participants in making and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes
• Lifestyle Coaches who are specifically trained to facilitate a fun, engaging program. 
• Support from a group working to make healthy lifestyle changes, celebrate successes and overcome challenges.

The ADA supports National DPP lifestyle change programs through training lifestyle coaches, supporting organizations in collecting, reporting and billing for services, and creating a network of partners that are focused on sustainability to optimize the health of individuals with prediabetes or at risk for diabetes. 

Unique Opportunity for DSMES Programs

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) organizations that become CDC-recognized National DPP lifestyle change programs can be fast-tracked to preliminary recognition and even apply for lifestyle coach training scholarships. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC have partnered with the ADA and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) to offer this fast-tracking opportunity.  

This opportunity will allow DSMES organizations to receive preliminary status at the time of acceptance with the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP). It typically takes organizations a year or more to receive preliminary status without the fast-tracking opportunity. By receiving preliminary status, the organization would be eligible to apply to be a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) supplier right away and begin submitting medical claims for MDPP services provided to Medicare beneficiaries.  

That ADA is armed with the resources to support your DSMES organization becoming a CDC-recognized National DPP lifestyle change program. Feel free to reach out to the ADA’s Diabetes Prevention team atDPPExpress@diabetes.org or start your CDC application.