The Case for Diabetes Prevention in Extension

Preventing Diabetes is Everyone’s Business

The Burden of Prediabetes

About 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes.
Prediabetes puts people at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, in addition to type 2 diabetes.
8 out of 10 people with prediabetes do not know they have it. Prediabetes risk can be detected through simple screening tests.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by participating in a CDC-Recognized lifestyle program

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was created by CDC in 2010 to target people with prediabetes.
The CDC LCP, a twelve-month lifestyle intervention, can be delivered in-person, asynchronous online (no group meetings), synchronous distance learning, or a combination of in-person and distance learning.
The National DPP lifestyle change program (LCP) is an evidence-based program that reduces the risk for developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58% in people with prediabetes who lose 5 – 7% of body weight.

This program is not a weight loss program or an intervention program but is instead a program focused on promoting lifestyle change and diabetes prevention.
Many Cooperative Extension Systems across the country have adopted the CDC recognized lifestyle change program for diabetes prevention. In most states, the program is facilitated by Family and Consumer Sciences Extension educators trained as lifestyle coaches.
Extension is a leader in improving health and joined the CDC efforts to address this national health issue.

Many areas do not have access to diabetes prevention education and many at-risk groups are underrepresented in these programs. The Cooperative Extension System (CES) has the potential to meet this need through its vast reach and mission to bring knowledge and skills to communities to improve health and well-being.
The CDC lifestyle change program fits well within the Extension mission of preventing chronic conditions. Extension can make a significant impact in the prevention of prediabetes and diabetes-related health conditions by offering this program.

Be aware of the burden of diabetes in your community: US Diabetes Surveillance System
See if there is a CDC Recognized Program in your community: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/find-a-program.html
Decide where you can help your community with the Healthy People 2030 diabetes prevention objectives:
- Reduce the proportion of adults who don’t know they have prediabetes
- Increase the proportion of eligible people completing CDC recognized type 2 diabetes prevention programs.
- Reduce the number of diabetes cases diagnosed yearly
Learn about the process to start a new program
Network with other states doing the same thing
Learn from the states with years of experience
Receive support for all steps of your program
And know that you are not alone!