The Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has earned full recognition from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Full recognition is the highest achievement possible and is reserved for groups that have effectively delivered a high-quality, evidence-based program that meets all the standards for CDC recognition. Founded in 2019, Kaiser Permanente’s DPP has been recognized by the CDC twice.
“Participating in a diabetes prevention program can be life-changing,” said Eva DiCocco, MD, a primary care physician and physician lead for the Diabetes Prevention Program at Kaiser Permanente, Mid-Atlantic States. “We tell patients that diabetes is not your destiny. You may be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but with our program, you have the power to prevent it.”
In the latest analyses, 60 percent of patients who completed the DPP at Kaiser Permanente achieved one or more of the following outcomes:
- Lost at least 5 percent of their body weight
- Lost at least 4 percent of their body weight and averaged at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity
Kaiser Permanente’s DPP was developed specifically to prevent Type 2 diabetes. It is designed for patients who have prediabetes or are at risk for Type 2 diabetes but who do not already have diabetes. For one year, participants work with registered dietitians and lifestyle coaches who provide practical training in long-term dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior change strategies for weight control.
“The DPP gives patients their life back,” Dr. DiCocco said. “Patients have more energy to play with their kids or grandkids. Their blood pressure and cholesterol levels come down. They can go back to doing what they love.”
Strategies Backed by Science
Kaiser Permanente’s DPP partners with the CDC’s National DPP program to provide scientifically backed curriculums proven to delay onset of Type 2 diabetes and promote weight loss and A1c reduction.
Research shows that DPP participants who lost 5 percent to 7 percent of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent (71 percent for people over 60 years old). A 10-year follow-up study showed participants were still one-third less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes a decade later than individuals who took a placebo pill and did not participate in the program. Those who did develop Type 2 diabetes delayed the onset of the disease by about four years.
“I feel so much better now, not to mention I look a lot better too and lost a lot of weight,” said Barbara Uhler, a 73-year-old Kaiser Permanente member and DPP participant. “When I go on vacation, I’m able to walk all day and really enjoy sight-seeing,” Uhler added, who took a trip to Spain and France this summer.
Uhler lost more than 30 pounds and reversed her pre-diabetes through the program at Kaiser Permanente.
How the Diabetes Prevention Program Works
Kaiser Permanente’s DPP program is led by a dedicated team of primary care physicians, diabetic educators, clinical pharmacists, nutritionists and specialists. The program is available at no additional cost to the member and offered virtually, in-person or in a hybrid format.
Adult patients (18 years or older) are eligible to participate in the DPP if they have prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Patients must also have an elevated BMI (25 or higher) and cannot be pregnant or previously diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Kaiser Permanente’s Comprehensive Diabetes Care Results
For patients living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Kaiser Permanente’s award-winning comprehensive program allows physicians to diagnose and treat diabetes so patients can live longer, healthier lives. Benefits of Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care include:
- Robust Electronic Medical Records. A patient’s entire care team is connected through Kaiser Permanente’s robust electronic medical records, alerting both patient and provider when preventive care or treatments are needed. Patients have access to any of their specialists with the push of a button on the Kaiser Permanente app. Whether a patient needs a consultation with their endocrinologist for new or a podiatrist for a foot exam, everyone is up to date on the patient’s complete health history at the beginning of each visit.
- Remote Monitoring. At-home remote monitoring technology allows a patient’s care team to get instant updates on a patient’s blood sugar and blood pressure.
- Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians. Patients have access to board-certified Lifestyle Medicine physicians at Kaiser Permanente for support on healthy lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, weight management and weight-loss medications and procedures – through in-person and virtual appointments.
Nearly 69 percent of patients at Kaiser Permanente with diabetes have their blood sugar under control, surpassing the national average of 58.4 percent. Kaiser Permanente’s male and female patients have notably lower mortality rates from diabetes at 23.8 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively, compared to the national rates of 27.5 percent and 22.1 percent. If national diabetes management mirrored Kaiser Permanente’s approach, the national mortality rate could be 32 percent lower than current CDC metrics.
About Kaiser Permanente:
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
