Diabetes Prevention Program

Are you at risk for prediabetes? 1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes and do not know they have it. Could YOU be at risk? Learn more about a program proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition when a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Without treatment and lifestyle changes, people can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

Type 2 diabetes can lead to other health issues such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, or the loss of toes, feet or legs. With healthy lifestyle changes (weight loss, healthy eating, and increased physical activity), people can delay or prevent diabetes and restore their blood sugar level back to normal.

About the Program

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an evidence-based lifestyle change program to help participants prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program will help participants learn and make achievable and realistic lifestyle changes to help you:

Eat healthy
Incorporate physical activity into daily routine
Manage stress
Solve problems that get in the way of healthy changes

Program Outcomes

At the end of the program participants should be able to:

Lose weight
Increase physical activity to 150 minutes a week
Increase daily intake of fruits and vegetables

Program Commitment

The program is 12 months long:

Core: 16 weekly one-hour sessions
Post Core: 8 months of bi-monthly or monthly one hour sessions

Does 12 months sound like a long time? Learning new habits and making changes take time.

To join the Diabetes Prevention Program, you must be:

18 years of age or older
Overweight (BMI >24 or 22 for Asian)
Have a lab test within the past year indicating a diagnosis of prediabetes or gestational diabetes
Have a Hennepin Healthcare primary care provider
Be willing to commit to a yearlong program

Locations and Contacts

The DPP program is offered at various times throughout the year located at Hennepin Healthcare locations. If you are a patient at Hennepin Healthcare and are interested in participating in the program, please talk to your provider for a referral to the program. One of the community health workers will contact you.

Brooklyn Park Clinic: Emilia Jackson Kailey
Hennepin Health Access Clinic: Mia Debbins
Internal Medicine Clinic: Paula Brown | Destiny Powell
East Lake Clinic: Mariela Ardemagni-Tollin
Richfield Clinic: Nancy Figueroa Ramirez
Whittier Clinic: Roman Gonzalez | Lourdes Martinez

If you have questions regarding the program or will like to get more information, please contact Vanessa Xiong, DPP Coordinator at 612-873-7508.