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The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is modeled after the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recognized program that helps people with prediabetes reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Research shows that participants in this lifestyle-change program who lost 5-7% of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week cut their risk of developing T2D by up 58% and by up to 71% for people over 60 years old.[1] The program can also lower a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke and improve overall health.
MDPP is available at no cost to people with Medicare and focuses on helping participants learn to make healthy food choices, be more physically active, and find healthy ways to manage stress. Over a 12-month period, the program includes up to 22 group sessions, where participants can share goals, experiences, and suggestions for adopting and sustaining a healthy lifestyle.
MDPP can empower patients to be role models of healthy living for their children, grandchildren, and community.
- Determine patient eligibility. Requirements include documentation of elevated plasma glucose or hemoglobin A1c and a Body Mass Index exceeding 25. Learn about the other eligibility criteria.
- Talk to your patients. As a trusted source of health information, hearing from you can motivate patients to participate, but physician or other health care professional referral is not required to enroll. For more information on MDPP and tips to help you talk to your patients about MDPP, check out this brief video and printable flyer.
- Find a local MDPP for your patients. Use this referral map, which shows MDPP by ZIP code, to refer patients to a MDPP close to them.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). National Diabetes Prevention Program. Why Participate?