Diabetes Prevention

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Click here to view Montana's Diabetes Prevention Story Map!

About the National Diabetes Prevention Program

An image of a man and women hiking. The National Diabetes Prevention Program, is a public health program that supports healthy lifestyle changes for adults who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Trained lifestyle coaches deliver the program through 20 organizations across the state. Classes are available both in person or through distance learning (video conferencing).

Diabetes Prevention Program Factsheet.

Vision

The Montana Diabetes Program is committed to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by utilizing sustainable community partnerships to provide primary prevention by emphasizing healthy lifestyle changes among high risk Montanans.

For the Public - Interested in Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes?

The Diabetes Prevention Program is about learning how to implement healthy, sustainable changes to your daily food choices and engage in regular physical activity that is enjoyable to you. These lifestyle changes can help you lose weight, feel better and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This program is facilitated by trained lifestyle coaches who provide guidance and support throughout the program. You will also be surrounded with other participants who are experiencing similar challenges and together, you will learn from and support each other along your lifestyle change journey.

Eligibility Criteria

Adults 18 or older, are eligible if they are overweight, have medical clearance and have one or more of the following risk factors:

Pre-diabetes (diagnosed by A1C, fasting plasma glucose, or oral glucose tolerance test)
High blood pressure
High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides
Had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

People who have completed this program gain confidence and learn new life skills. This year-long program consists of 1-hour group classes offered weekly then transitions to monthly. You will learn how to make better food choices, be more active, and manage stress and other challenges to help you lose weight and feel better.

Prediabetes What is it and What Can I Do?

An estimated 54,000 Montanans have prediabetes, but it is manageable and reversible.

Find out if you are at risk by taking this quick quiz.

For Health Care Professionals Interested in Referring Your Patient to a Diabetes Prevention Program.

About 88 million American adults have prediabetes, putting them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don't know they have it. The original Diabetes Prevention Program study showed a 58% reduction in the incidence rate of diabetes in those who participated in the lifestyle change program. Based on strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing new-onset diabetes, the Community Preventive Services Task Force now recommends programs like the National DPP's lifestyle change program.

This proven program can help people with prediabetes and/or at risk for type 2 diabetes make achievable and realistic lifestyle changes.
Participation in this program also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and its complications.
The lifestyle change program is a year-long program that begins with weekly sessions that transition to monthly sessions with trained lifestyle coaches who empower participants to take charge of their health.
Clinicians are encouraged to identify high risk persons in their practice and refer these persons to a Diabetes Prevention Program to take advantage of this preventive service.
Access a sample medical clearance form to refer your patient.
Click here to use the toolkit created by the AMA and CDC to help your practice screen, test, and refer patients to the DPP.
The 2020 Montana Provider Prediabetes Awareness Survey.

Find a Diabetes Prevention Program

Find a Diabetes Prevention Program in Montana by going to our Diabetes Prevention Story Map.

Montana Quick Stats

The Montana Quick Stats provides quick access to statistics with short description on topics related to diabetes.

Montana DPP Infographics

Montana DPP Publications

Over the years the Montana Diabetes Program has published a number of articles on a variety of topics using the Montana Diabetes Prevention data.

Brokaw SM, Carpenedo D, Campbell P, Butcher MK, Helgerson SD, Harwell TS, and the Montana Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Prevention Workgroup. Does a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Affect Key Outcomes in Women Participating in a Diabetes Prevention Program. Maternal and Child Health Journal 2018;22(4):529-537.
Vadheim L, Patch K, Brokaw SM, Carpenedo D, Butcher MK, Helgerson SD, Harwell TS. Telehealth delivery of the diabetes prevention program to rural communities. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2017;7(2):286–291.
Brokaw SM, Carpenedo D, Campbell P, Butcher MK, Furshong G, Helgerson SD, Harwell TS, and the Montana Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Prevention Workgroup. Effectiveness of an adapted Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention in older and younger adults. JAGS 2015;63(6):1067-1074.
Brokaw SM, Arave D, Emerson DN, Butcher MK, Helgerson SD, Harwell TS, and the Montana Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Prevention Workgroup. Intensive lifestyle intervention goals can be achieved as effectively with large groups as with small groups. Prim Care Diabetes 2014;8(4):295-300.
Carpenedo D. Adult Medicaid beneficiaries successfully participating in an adapted Diabetes Prevention Program. Montana Public Health Prevention Opportunities Under the Big Sky 2014;9(7):1-2. Request article information from our epidemiologist.

National and International DPP Publications

Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study
- Tuomilehto J, Lindström J, Eriksson JG, et al. Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. NEJM 344 (2001) 1343–1350.
US National Institutes of Health Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS)
- Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. NEJM 2002;346:393–403.
- Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, Knowler WC, Fowler SE, Hamman RF, et al. 10-Year follow-up of diabetes incidence and weight loss in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study. Lancet 2009;374:1677–1686.
- Article summarizing the ADA 74th Scientific Sessions oral presentation. American Diabetes Association: Nathan DM, et al "Results from the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study: 1996-2013" ADA 2014.

Montana DPP Poster Presentations

Who stays in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in Montana? (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA, 2019)
Weight Loss Achieved by Participants with Hypertension/High Blood Pressure in a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Orlando, FL, 2018)
Weight Loss among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Participating in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Orlando, FL, 2018)
Telehealth Delivery of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to Rural Communities (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, San Diego, CA, 2017)
Do Financial Incentives Make a Difference in Outcomes for Medicaid Members in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)? (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, New Orleans, LA, 2016)
Participation and Weight Loss Outcomes among High-Risk Women with and without a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in an Adapted Version of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, New Orleans, LA, 2016)
Are There Differences in Weight Loss Outcomes among Participants with and without a Disability in an Adapted DPP? (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Boston, MA, 2015)
Delivering the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to Medicaid Beneficiaries: Challenges and Solutions (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA, 2014)
Can an adapted version of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Be Delivered Effectively to Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries? (Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA, 2014)

To view poster presentations or DPP publications prior to 2014, please contact our Health Educator Sonja Tysk.

Tools for Lifestyle coaches

Additional Resources

For more information related to type 2 diabetes risk factors and prevention, please visit these national organizations:

Questions and comments about the National DPP lifestyle change program in Montana can be sent to the Health Educator Sonja Tysk.