Diabetes Prevention in 2015

2015 was an important year in the world of diabetes prevention. New epidemiological data has shown the large impact of diabetes and prediabetes in the U.S. and Colorado, and how much more work needs to be done to effectively screen for both diseases:

• New surveillance data from the CDC estimated 29.1 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes (with 8.1 million undiagnosed cases), and 86 million Americans have prediabetes. 
•  Colorado specific data from CDPHE estimated 410,000 Coloradans have Type 2 Diabetes (with 110,000 undiagnosed cases), and 1.5 million Coloradans have prediabetes.
• Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that although 136 million Americans met ADA criteria for diabetes screening, only 46% of those eligible were actually screened.
• The CDC estimated that 9 out of 10 Americans with prediabetes weren’t aware that they had it.
• CDPHE estimated that only 7% of Coloradans with prediabetes were aware that they had it.

New studies from 2015 underscored the severe, long-term consequences of diabetes, most notably that:

• Women with Type 2 Diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease compared to men with the disease;
• And Type 2 Diabetes is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly.

New research in 2015 supported lifestyle change interventions in the prevention of diabetes:

• 15 year follow-up data from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Research Group showed that intensive lifestyle modification for people with prediabetes (5-7% body weight loss and 150 minutes of exercise per week) reduced the 15 year incidence of diabetes by 27%.
• Meta-analysis data from the Community Preventative Services Task Force showed that combined diet and physical activity promotion programs were effective at decreasing diabetes incidence, and more intensive programs were more effective.
• The American Heart Association found that lifestyle interventions were especially effective at preventing cardiovascular disease in women with diabetes.

In 2015, new diabetes screening recommendations and tools for providers and employers were released:

• The USPSTF issued a Grade B recommendation that all overweight adults aged 40-70 should be screened for abnormal blood glucose, and those patients found to have abnormal blood glucose should be referred for intensive behavioral counseling, such as the National DPP.
• The CDC and AMA partnered to create the Prevent Diabetes STAT Tool-kit and a Diabetes Prevention CME module for healthcare providers.
• The AMA issued a new CPT code for National DPP providers, 0403T.
• The Colorado Prevention Alliance created a Colorado-specific Diabetes Prevention Tool-kit for healthcare providers.
• The University of Colorado School of Medicine, with sponsorship from CDPHE and CDC, developed a National DPP Economic Assessment Tool for employers.

2015 was also an important year for the National DPP in Colorado. CDPHE launched a new website for the National DPP and created a National DPP Speakers Bureau designed to provide organizations with informative presentations that focus on raising awareness about prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and the National DPP. There are now over 25 National DPP locations in Colorado.

Looking forward to 2016, there is still much work to be done in preventing Type 2 Diabetes. Visit our website for more information about the National DPP in Colorado and how to become involved in this effort.