The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a series of sessions over the course of a year.  Trained Lifestyle Coaches work with participants to optimize behavior change, to help them work towards a goal of 5-7% weight loss and a goal of 150 minutes of physical activity a week. Coaches use strategies that focus on self-monitoring of diet and physical activity, building social support for maintaining lifestyle changes, etc. The local DPP is a collaborative effort of Person County Health Department and NC Cooperative Extension.

Individuals ages 18+, with a BMI of 25 or higher, who are prediabetic (determined by a blood test or risk test), or who had gestational diabetes may be eligible for the DPP.

Lifestyle changes in DPP participants often result in weight loss, increased physical activity, increased mindfulness about behaviors, reduced AIC levels, etc.

See the 2023 Person County SOTCH Report for progress in 2023. Go to www.personcountync.gov (to find the Health Department's page and this report). 

In May 2024, the DPP's seventh cohort concluded with 11 participants. The eighth cohort started in July with nine participants and will end in June 2025.  Efforts to recruit participants for the eighth cohort included a Community Screening Event (offering free A1C testing, BMI measurements, a diabetes risk test, and testimonials from former participants), Facebook postings, newspaper ads, radio ads, church bulletin inserts, and information sessions. The data section of the scorecard reflects outcomes for the seventh cohort.

The eighth DPP cohort ended in June 2025. The program started and ended with the same nine participants. Five of the nine participants met or exceeded their 5-7% weight loss goal. Six participants got/averaged 150 minutes or more of physical activity at least 50% of the weeks that physical activity was reported.  Six of the eight participants, qualifying for DPP with an A1c, had reduced it by the end of the program. All nine participants were very dedicated to session attendance as well as attending make-up sessions if they were absent. However, there were three individuals with perfect attendance who did not require any make-up sessions. The data section of the scorecard reflects most of these outcomes.

Efforts to recruit participants for the nineth cohort scheduled to start in July 2025 included: numerous information sessions, a meeting with local medical providers to encourage referrals to DPP, newspaper advertisements, radio announcements, church bulletin inserts, flyer distributions, social media and website postings, meeting announcements, etc. Due to low registration, this cohort was postponed until early 2026.