Diabetes Prevention & Prediabetes

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is when a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes is a serious health condition and can put a person at risk of developing other chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Am I at risk of type 2 diabetes?

People who have prediabetes have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. However, the National Diabetes Prevention Program can help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. Take the diabetes risk test today! to see if you are eligible for the National DPP!

Being overweight
Being 45 years or older
Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
Being physically active less than 3 times a week
Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
Giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
Having polycystic ovary syndrome

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that adults with no risk factors begin diabetes screening at age 35.

National DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program)

The goal of the National DPP is to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by helping participants make modest lifestyle changes over the course of a year. Participants set goals to lower their weight by 5-7% and to increase their physical activity to 150 minutes per week. The original Diabetes Prevention Program Research Study found that the program can lower a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% (71% in people 60 and older).

Ways to participate in a National DPP Program

In Person

Participants attend class in a physical location

Online

Participants complete the program online
and at their own pace

Virtual

Participants attend class over a virtual platform with other participants

The Diabetes Prevention Program is taught through county health departments as well as local healthcare organizations like Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health. For a comprehensive list of classes offered in Utah, see the table below.

Way to Wellness Program with Intermountain Health. Call (801) 507-2400 or visit the link for more information.
National Diabetes Prevention Program with University of Utah. Call (801) 213-8720 or visit the link for more information.

National DPP Providers

National DPP Insurance Coverage

Several insurance companies cover the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Utah, including Medicare, Select Health, University Health, Cigna and United Health Care.

Call your insurance company to ask about coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program. When speaking with insurance the following codes can be used to check for coverage:

S9449 for Select Health members
0403T for all other commercial insurance members
G9886 or G9887 for Medicare members

Intermountain Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program, “Way to Wellness”, offers a self-pay option with a 30% discount. Scholarships for this program are available based on eligibility and availability.

Insurance Name	National DPP Reqirements
Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage	In-person and distance options are covered. Begin program with BMI of ≥25 (≥23 for Asian) and Never been diagnosed with Type 1 or 2 Diabetes or End Stage Renal Disease. Proof of blood test indicating prediabetes. One of the following blood tests must be conducted within one year (12 months) before your first session: -A1c 5.7- 6.4% or -Fasting plasma glucose 110- 125 mg/dl or a -Oral glucose tolerance 140 - 199 mg/dl
Utah Medicaid	Start the program with BMI of ≥25 (≥23 for Asian) and Provide proof of blood test indicating prediabetes OR Previous Gestational Diabetes diagnosis OR Score ≥5 on the Diabetes Risk Screener (complete screening at top of the page or through CDC).
Select Health and EMI	Will not cover any portion of the program if participants do not complete all 23 sessions or meet certain qualifications by the first session. Participant must verify coverage, but qualifiers may include: Start the program with a BMI ≥30 OR Start the program with a BMI of 29.9 or less with at least one of the following health conditions: For SelectHealth members: prediabetes, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, small bowel syndrome, congestive heart failure, or reflux disease. For Educator’s Mutual members: cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or diabetes.
All other eligible insurance plans or scholarship	Start the program with BMI of ≥25 (≥22 for Asian) and Provide proof of blood test indicating prediabetes OR Score ≥5 on the AMA Diabetes Risk Screener (complete screening at top of the page or through CDC).

NDPP Resources for Providers

You can read more about the Surprising truth about Prediabetes here.
prediabetes is a big deal but it is an opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes by improving lifestyle habits.