Diabetes is recognized as a chronic, long-term condition that can cause high blood sugar levels. In 2013, it was reported that approximately 382 million people throughout the world were diagnosed with diabetes.

The number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, but steps are being taken to identify early risk and proper management of the condition.

In an effort to curtail this growing number, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a national initiative called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), which works in collaboration with both public and private organizations to bring awareness of risks that can be associated with the development of diabetes. The program aims to reduce the number of individuals that are diagnosed with prediabetes (blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not to the point to meet the criteria for diabetes).

The DPP is recognized as a preventive care benefit program that can be entered by qualified individuals under Affordable Care Act insurance plans. In addition, the CDC has a national registry of recognized diabetes programs that are able to provide evidence-based Type 2 diabetes programs available in communities across the United States.

All of the programs have agreed to abide by the requirements for a curriculum described in the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program.

In Alabama, the Poarch Creek Indiana Health Department Diabetes Prevention Program is a public, 16-week program designed to help guide and support participants as they learn to make small healthy changes. In California, Anthem Blue Cross created a 12-month diabetes program that is designed to educate and support qualified residents of California who are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

The goal of both diabetes prevention programs is to offer healthy lifestyle coaching and classes that can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and coaching to aid with management for those who have developed diabetes. The CDC-approved programs are designed to offer low-cost access to participants who have the opportunity to connect with a varied national network of diabetes prevention program providers.

Offering patients the choice to connect with providers who are considered to be well suited for the management of their chronic disease allows for increased participation while at the same time lowering the costs that can be incurred.

The management of diabetes requires that individuals who are diagnosed with the disease take an active involvement and work to achieve an understanding of the associated conditions that can develop. Diabetes prevention programs allow individuals to be actively engaged in their own health and take advantage of the tools that are offered to them.