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 to develop diabetes within 5 years, and more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than the general US population. Lifestyle changes such as eating healthier (e.g., eating more fruits and vegetables) and being physically active at least 150 minutes per week are proven to help reduce these risks.

A major challenge in preventing diabetes is lack of public awareness. More than 1 in 3 adults in the United States have prediabetes, but nearly 9 out of 10 people don’t know it. Locally, the numbers are significantly higher. In San Diego, an estimated half of adult San Diegans are on the path to diabetes.

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 that translates research into real-life disease prevention strategies. The National DPP has shown that eating healthier, increasing physical activity, losing a small amount of weight, and managing stress, can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

Developing support for National DPPs encourages collaboration among our region’s community-based organizations, employers, insurers, health care professionals, government, academic researchers, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) in San Diego

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, starting in 2015. Current major activities include:

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 worksite wellness programs, 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, and 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 Alison Sipler.