Evidence and Challenges for Translation and Population Impact of the Diabetes Prevention Program

• Published in: Current diabetes reports Vol. 20; no. 3; p. 9
• Main Authors: Ackermann, Ronald T., O’Brien, Matthew J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Economics and Policy in Diabetes (AA Baig and N Laiteerapong; Exercise; Health Promotion; Humans; Life Style; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Prediabetic State - prevention & control; Prevention programs; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Section Editors; Topical Collection on Economics and Policy in Diabetes; United States; Weight Loss; United States; Type 2 diabetes; Dissemination of evidence; Prediabetes; Diabetes prevention; Implementation challenges
• ISSN: 1534-4827; 1539-0829; 1539-0829
• DOI: 10.1007/s11892-020-1293-4

Purpose of Review Type 2 diabetes is common, burdensome, and preventable. Landmark trials such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) demonstrated that resource–intensive lifestyle support interventions resulting in modest weight loss via healthy diet changes and physical activity can lower the rate of diabetes development by 58%. We performed a review of efforts to translate and implement DPP-like programs throughout the USA to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement. Recent Findings For more than a decade, multiple stakeholders have worked to translate evidence-based principles of diabetes prevention to reach 84 million Americans with prediabetes. DPP-like programs have been delivered by over 1500 organizations, reaching almost 300,000 people, but this number represents less than 1% of the target population. Research has uncovered large gaps in efforts to diagnose, raise awareness, and provide access to DPP-like programs for adults with prediabetes, requiring further stakeholder engagement and coordination to resolve. Summary Efforts to address prevailing gaps in diabetes prevention must address distinct and sometimes conflicting priorities and concerns of stakeholders. Our review recommends several areas of further research and action to improve type 2 diabetes prevention on a population scale.