An estimated 38 million U.S. adults—more than 1 in 3 adults— and 10% of the adult population in Pennsylvania have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Individuals with prediabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Individuals with prediabetes are at high risk for type 2 diabetes (the most common type of diabetes), heart disease, and stroke. Type 2 diabetes can usually be delayed or prevented with behavior changes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an evidence-based year-long lifestyle change program to help participants who are at risk for type 2 diabetes adopt sustainable, healthy lifestyle choices, and achieve weight loss. This year-long program, held in person or virtually and facilitated by a trained coach, teaches individuals with prediabetes how to modify their lifestyle through problem-solving and coping techniques.

What You Can Do

We encourage you, as a trusted health care professional, to recommend DPP sessions and provide information to your patients with prediabetes. A list of prediabetic patients can be accessed via our provider portal, and organizations that offer DPP sessions are listed in the table below. Please review this list regularly and refer prediabetic patients to a DPP session before they develop diabetes.

Use the links below to review eligibility requirements for Medicaid and Medicare patients with prediabetes:

Review eligibility for Medicaid patients

Review eligibility for Medicare patients

Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Details

Each DPP session consists of 16 one-hour core sessions followed by 6 monthly sessions over the course of the year. Sessions are held in person, virtually, or a hybrid model. See below for organizations that hold DPP sessions throughout the year.

Additional Resources:

• CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program
• CMS’ Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Expanded Model