The National Diabetes Prevention Program at Colorado State University has become only the second program of its kind in Fort Collins to receive full recognition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allowing it to accept Medicare participants for the first time.
The NDPP, offered by the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center (KRNC) in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, has been striving to receive the CDC recognition ever since the program launched four years ago.
“Having a CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program means that we are consistently meeting criteria that demonstrates our program is highly effective for reversing prediabetes,” says Shelby Cox, interim director of the KRNC. “We plan to leverage this victory and expand our program offerings so we can extend our reach in our community.”
Body weight reduction
Cox explained that one achievement that secured recognition for the program was consistently demonstrating that participants achieved at least a 5 percent reduction in their body weight. There have been 10 cohorts of participants in KRNC’s NDPP over the past four years.
Cox said about 30 programs in the state offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and only about a dozen have received this level of CDC recognition.
“You and your colleagues should be extremely proud of this accomplishment,” Ann Albright, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation in the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, wrote in a letter to Cox announcing the recognition. “It is programs like yours that are turning the tide in the fight against the epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Thank you for all that you are doing and for your commitment to reducing the preventable burden of diabetes in the U.S.”
More than one in three adults has prediabetes. Prediabetes is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Now those who have been diagnosed with prediabetes and who have Medicare or CSU health insurance can take NDPP for free through the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center. The center accepts Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and United insurance for NDPP participants who meet eligibility criteria.
The NDPP will be offered again beginning Sept. 6. For more information, visit https://col.st/GnzKM.
About the KRNC
Located in the CSU Health and Medical Center, the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center is the outreach and teaching arm of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. The KRNC dietitian nutritionists provide motivational nutrition information, lifestyle coaching, cooking classes, and personalized diet, shopping, meal planning and wellness tips to the general public.
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
