National Diabetes Prevention Program

The New Orleans Health Department is now an official CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program provider for in-person services. This program is one of two National DPPs in the city that are CDC-recognized. Lifestyle coaches are undergoing required training and information about in-person classes will be posted in the future. Referrals will be accepted on a rolling basis until a suitable group size is met for the first cohort.

Join the National Diabetes Prevention Program

If you have prediabetes, the National DPP lifestyle change program is one of the most effective ways to prevent type 2 diabetes. In the program, you'll learn skills to help you lose weight, become more active, and improve your overall health.

Diabetes Prevention Program Interest Form

 

To participate, you must meet ALL 4 of these requirements:

  1. Be 18 years or older.
  2. Have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (23 or higher if you're an Asian American person).
  3. Not be previously diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  4. Not be pregnant.

You also need to meet 1 of these requirements:

  1. Had a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year (includes any of these tests and results):
    • Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7%–6.4%
    • Fasting plasma glucose: 100–125 mg/dL
    • 2-hour plasma glucose (after a 75g glucose load): 140–199 mg/dL.
  2. Be previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
  3. Received a high-risk result (score of 5 or higher) on the Prediabetes Risk Test.

About Prediabetes

Having prediabetes means your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Prediabetes can often be reversed.

In the United States, about 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes, and more than 8 in 10 of them don't know they have it. Without taking action, many people with prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

With type 2 diabetes, your body can't effectively use insulin (a hormone that helps glucose get into the cells of the body). You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, but certain factors increase your risk.

About the Program

The National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program can help you build healthy new habits that last a lifetime. In the program, you'll learn to:

  • Eat healthy without giving up all the foods you love.
  • Add physical activity to your life, even if you don't think you have time.
  • Deal with stress.
  • Cope with challenges that can slow your progress, like choosing healthy food when eating out.