Key Takeaways
86 million Americans—1 in 3 adults—have pre-diabetes.
Studies show that losing 5 to 7 percent of body weight reduced risk of developing types 2 diabetes by 58 percent.
Health plans deliver the Diabetes Prevention Program for diverse population in convenient settings and are helping people improve their health.
Background
Diabetes is a growing problem in America. Approximately 29.1 million Americans—one out of every 11 people—have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another 86 million Americans—one in three adults—have prediabetes.
Diabetes can dramatically decrease a person’s quality of life and can lead to a higher likelihood of other serious health issues. Diabetes has been associated with higher rates of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult-onset blindness.
Data indicates that the risk of death for adults with diabetes is 50 percent higher than for those without diabetes.
Additionally, in 2017, diabetes cost an estimated $266 billion in total medical costs and lost work and wages.
It is clear that we need new approaches to address the considerable damage this chronic health condition can cause. That is why AHIP engaged in a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between 2012 and 2017, several of our member insurance providers offered the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and its CDC-developed curriculum to their members and consumers.