The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was identified as an action that, when combined with other actions in our community, has a reasonable chance of making a difference in the adult pre-diabetes rate our community. This is an ongoing program in our community, which began in the spring of 2016.  Thanks to a grant administered by NC State University, this one-year program is now offered at no cost and provides fitness and nutrition-related incentives.  The program also provides gas cards and child care if participants identify these as barriers.    

The audience for the DPP are individuals in Haywood County at risk for developing type 2 diabetes with a priority placed on vulnerable populations, such as African Americans, American Indians, and the less educated and lower-income generating populations. The program aims to make a difference at the individual/interpersonal behavior level. This CDC-developed lifestyle change program has been proven effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Implementation will continue to take place at the local health department.

This strategy addresses health disparities. According to Healthy North Carolina 2020*,

• African Americans are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes, compared with whites (15.6% versus 8.4% in 2009).
• Compared with whites, American Indians are more likely to have diabetes (11.7% versus 8.4% in 2009).
• Individuals with less education and with lower incomes are also more likely to have diabetes (2009).

* Source: North Carolina Institute of Medicine. Healthy North Carolina 2020: A Better State of Health. Morrisville, NC: North Carolina Institute of Medicine; 2011.

2020 Update: 

A Diabetes Prevention Program class began in September 2019 and concluded in August 2020 with six participants.  In spring 2020, the class transitioned from in-person to conference call format.  While the class experienced some initial attrition, no additional participants were lost due to the virtual format.  The yearlong class had a retention rate of 40%.  An additional class began in November 2020 with six participants.  This class, which will conclude in October 2021, has a retention rate of 83%.  The November class includes several individuals who are auditing the class (Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency, 2019-21).  

The partners for the National Diabetes Prevention Program include:

Evaluation Plan:

We plan to evaluate the impact of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) through the use of Results-Based Accountability™ to monitor specific performance measures. We will be monitoring How Much, How Well and/or Better Off Performance Measures. Our evaluation activities will be tracked in the Work Plan table, above. Performance measures include the numbers of participants who complete the program, who achieve a 5-7% weight loss, and who report 150 or more minutes of weekly activity.  

Sustainability Plan:

The following is our sustainability plan for the National Diabetes Prevention Program: 

• Sustainability Components:
  • Continue to recruit participants through ongoing healthcare provider referrals and local media.
  • Submit bi-annual data to the CDC for evaluation, which will help us maintain pending recognition, with a long-term goal of obtaining full recognition.  
  • Improve retention through provider referrals and provision of incentives.  Retention will strengthen data, helping us to become a supplier for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP).  MDPP suppliers are able to receive reimbursement for Medicare recipients. 
  • Haywood County Health and Human Services is committed to offering DPP and will continue providing trained staff to serve as lifestyle coaches.  This organization has experience operating the program with limited funding.  
  • Use performance measures, such as those detailed in the above evaluation plan, to help assess program performance.