Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 34.2 million Americans — just over 1 in 10 — have diabetes. Today, another 88 million are living with prediabetes, which increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other health problems.
The good news is that by making small healthy lifestyle changes, it is possible to prevent type 2 diabetes. A ground-breaking study funded by the CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that millions of high-risk people could indeed delay or avoid developing type 2 diabetes through this lifestyle intervention programming known as a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). In fact, participants in the program reduced their risk for developing diabetes by 58 percent!
A Diabetes Prevention Program is a one-year program led by a trained lifestyle coach. It focuses on long-term lifestyle changes including healthy eating, stress reduction and increased physical activity. Participants in a Diabetes Prevention Program learn skills necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, including:
- Eating healthy without cutting the foods you love
- Increasing physical activity
- Managing stress
- Overcoming challenges that come from forming habits
Learn more about the benefits of a DPP Program here.
In addition to Diabetes Prevention, Telligen also offers Diabetes Management as part of our Disease Management Program. Telligen’s certified diabetic educators build relationships with members and their families and/or caregivers to understand their conditions. We coordinate healthcare treatments and coordinate with providers on evidence-based practices to improve the health of members and manage costs.