The Diabetes Prevention Program is led by a MCHC Lifestyle coach for one year. The training helps participants learn about healthy eating, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated, and other behavior changes. The program is recognized by the CDC and is proven to work, based on research led by the National Institutes of Health. The DPP showed that people with prediabetes who take part in the DPP can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% (71% for people over 60 years old). This finding was the result of the program helping people lose 5% to 7% of their body weight through healthier eating and 150 minutes of physical activity a week. It doesn’t take a drastic weight loss to make a big impact.
However, the impact of this program can last for years to come. Studies have found that even after 10 years, people who completed this program were one third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
YOU MAY HAVE PRE-DIABETES AND BE AT RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES IF YOU:
• Are 45 years of age or older
• Are overweight
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Are physically active fewer than 3 times per week
• Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
