Diabetes Advocacy Alliance applauds funding for CDC Program to prevent Diabetes

February 26, 2012 -- The Diabetes Advocacy Alliance™ (DAA) has applauded the Department of Health and Human Services for approving $10 million in funding for the CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), an initiative that provides local communities with lifestyle change programs for preventing type 2 diabetes.   

"We are very pleased by the $10 million that HHS approved for this highly successful approach to reducing the risk of diabetes," said Martha Rinker, Chief Advocacy Officer of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, a DAA member co-chair organization.

"The DAA has been advocating for funds to bring this program to scale nationally. The funding will help bring this evidence-based lifestyle intervention to more people and more communities throughout the US to help fight the diabetes epidemic."

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), which was authorized in 2010, is based on a research study led by the National Institutes of Health and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The lifestyle intervention program used in this study showed that making modest behavior changes, such as improving food choices and increasing physical activity to at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, helped participants lose 5 – 7 percent of their body weight. These lifestyle changes reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent in people at high risk for the disease. Seniors reduced their risk by 71 percent.

The inaugural partners of the NDPP were the YMCA of the USA and United Health Group. These partner organizations were instrumental in starting the national program and continue to expand its reach. The CDC is enthusiastic about other community-based organizations becoming involved in the program as well.

"Funding for the National Diabetes Prevention Program is absolutely vital when you look at the big picture of diabetes in the US: Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes. Another 79 million Americans are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

And as a nation, we spend more than $218 billion annually on the disease," said Michael Duenas, O.D., Chief Public Health Officer of the American Optometric Association, a DAA member co-chair organization.

"The NDPP can help take people out of harm's way of a disease that damages and destroys lives—to say nothing of driving up health costs." 

The Urban Institute estimates that savings from the NDDP could be as high as $191 billion over 10 years—with Medicare and Medicaid seeing 75% of this savings.  

The DAA is a diverse group of 18 patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and corporations, sharing a common goal to defeat diabetes.

Members of the DAA currently include the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Clinical Laboratory Association, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Optometric Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, Medicare Diabetes Screening Project, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association, National Kidney Foundation, Novo Nordisk Inc., Pediatric Endocrine Society, Results for Life, The Endocrine Society, VSP Vision Care, and YMCA of the USA.

Visit the DAA website at www.diabetesadvocacyalliance.org.