The Suffolk County Department of Health Services has received "full plus recognition" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its Diabetes Prevention Program. The recognition is a designation reserved for programs that have effectively delivered a quality, evidence-based program that meets all of the standards for CDC recognition.
The Diabetes Prevention Program is a national partnership of organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in participants. The evidence-based lifestyle change program is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program offers a full year of support in helping participants healthfully, add physical activity to their routines, manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of goals. Initial studies, which began in 1997, showed the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was reduced by 58 percent in adults at high risk for the disease (71% for people over 60 years old). A 10-year follow-up study showed that participants were still one-third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes a decade later than individuals who took a placebo. Those who did develop type 2 diabetes delayed the onset of the disease by about 4 years.
Suffolk County has been a partner in the diabetes program program since 2013 and first achieved full recognition for its diabetes prevention program in October of 2016. The standards to achieve full recognition were strict, requiring extensive documentation and demonstration of an average weight loss of 5% across all evaluated participants in the yearlong cohort, a 0.2% reduction in HB1c, or a weigh loss of 4% and at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity for 12 months.
To achieve "full plus" recognition, or an additional 2 years of full recognition, the program must retain certain percentages of a cohort over particular periods of time. For example, a minimum of 50% of a cohort must be retained at the beginning of the fourth month. Suffolk County’s designation is noted on the national registry website.
CDC-recognized organizations achieving preliminary or full recognition status are eligible to enroll in Medicare as Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) suppliers and increases opportunities for program reimbursement by private and public payers. Enrollment in Medicare as an MDPP supplier is required before an organization can bill Medicare for in-person DPP services provided to eligible beneficiaries.
"It is not easy to change behavior, but we are making inroads and we hope to ultimately see improvement in health outcomes as we train more lifestyle coaches in our communities," said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of Health Services. "To accomplish full recognition from the CDC is testimony to our dedicated staff who have brought this program to life in Suffolk County."
To date, 415 Suffolk County residents have participated in the county's Diabetes Prevention Program.
The Suffolk County Diabetes Prevention Program will be offering a new year-long program at Long Island Community Hospital beginning February 2024. Details are posted on the county website. To register, contact Debora Rippel at 631-853-2928 or debora.rippel@suffolkcountyny.gov.
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