Diabetes Prevention Program
Take a short quiz to see if the program is right for you.
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This lifestyle management program starts with 16 weekly sessions, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining 8 months. The program uses a CDC-approved curriculum and focuses on weight management, increasing physical activity and reducing the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This program is a covered benefit for both Medicare and Oregon’s Medicaid program.
What Is the Benefit of a Diabetes Prevention Program?
As part of a DPP group, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight without dieting, being more physically active, and managing stress.
Being part of a group provides support from other people who are facing similar challenges and trying to make the same changes you are. Together you can celebrate successes and find ways to overcome obstacles.
What Is Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition where the blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One in three American adults have prediabetes. Most do not even know they have it. If you have prediabetes and do not make lifestyle improvements, your risk for developing type 2 diabetes within 5 years is high. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. It can lead to health issues such as heart attack, dementia, stroke; blindness, kidney failure, and loss of toes, feet, or legs.
Am I at Risk for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?
You are at increased risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you:
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Are 45 years of age or older
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Are overweight (BMI > 30)
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Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
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Are physically active fewer than three times per week
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Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
If you think you may be at risk, a health care provider can do a blood test to see if you have
diabetes or prediabetes.
Can I Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
Yes! Hearing your doctor say, “You’re at risk for type 2 diabetes,” or “You have prediabetes,” means that you can start preventing type 2 diabetes today. And you do not have to do it alone. Finding a DPP program was your first step on that journey. If you have prediabetes, now is the time for prevention. Lifestyle Medicine Group's DPP lifestyle change program can help you take charge of your health to prevent type 2 diabetes for a lifetime.