August 27, 2015

33% of Utahns Are Prediabetic and 90% Don’t Know They Are

(Salt Lake County)—The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) announced today the first opportunity for Utahns to participate in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). The NDPP is a year-long program proven to successfully prevent or delay onset of type 2 diabetes in its participants.

Created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the NDPP helps adults make meaningful, positive lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, including physical activity into their daily lives, and improving problem-solving and coping skills.

Participants meet with a trained lifestyle coach and a small group of people who are also making lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes. Sessions are weekly for 6 months and then monthly for 6 months. On average, program participants cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

The program’s total cost is $250 per person, and scholarships are available to lower-income participants.

Utahns spent $1.7 billion on diabetes in 2012,” said Julia Glade, health educator with SLCoHD. “This is a great deal for people with a family history or who are otherwise at risk of developing diabetes, or for anyone who wants consistent professional guidance and peer support in making healthier choices.”

People who participated in the program during its research phase say the NDPP has made a lasting impact: “Before the program, I was just doing random hit or miss things to be healthy that day,” said Lauren Clark, RN, PhD. “This program is the first time I've sustained interest in my health and wellness goals for more than a week at a time and it’s given me a better chance for success.”

You may have prediabetes and be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are 45 years of age or older
• Are overweight
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Have high blood pressure
• Are physically active fewer than three times per week
• Have ever had diabetes while pregnant or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds

Salt Lake County sessions begin in September at seven locations around the valley:

• Millcreek Community Center
  2266 East Evergreen Avenue
• Health Professions Education Building
  520 Wakara Way
• Health Care Business Building
  127 South 500 East, Suite 660
• University of Utah Annex
  1901 East South Campus Dr.
• River’s Bend Community Center
  1300 West 300 North
• Redwood Health Center
  1525 West 2100 South
• South Jordan Health Center
  5126 West Daybreak Parkway

To register for the program, call 1-888-222-2542, or email DPP@utah.edu for more information.