The DPP is a yearlong training, consisting of 22 group sessions over a year giving participants knowledge and support to maintain better eating habits and to exercise more. Reaching the main program goals of a five to seven percent weight loss – and exercising 30 minutes a day 5 times a week – will reverse pre-diabetes for the majority of participants.
“We think it’s important and more effective to involve the community on every level including being the LifeStyle Coaches. That way, people see others who are succeeding right in front of them and they realize they can succeed, too,” said Chris Norwood, Executive Director of Health People. “For some reason, there’s a widespread but wrong view that people who live in low-income areas don’t lose weight. With the group support the DPP provides, we see just the opposite. Right now the two DPP groups the Health People Lifestyle Coaches are facilitating are exceeding the CDC goals—with an overall 8% average weight loss.”
“Unfortunately, despite years of evidence and research showing that DPP works, most insurance, including Medicaid, will not pay for it. That only means the nation gets further and further behind on prevention, while millions develop diabetes they should never,” said Norwood.
As a mother of four and grandmother of eleven, Marin is very happy she can now help her family develop healthy habits and help her neighborhood. She has taken the Health People training to teach diabetes self-care to those who already have diabetes, helping them avoid serious complications such as amputation and blindness. “I want to continue to fight against diabetes and help others know they can fight, too,” Marin said. Learn more about Marin’s inspiring story by checking out the CDC National Campaign.
