Power to Prevent: A lifestyle diabetes prevention program for adults with and at risk for type 2 diabetes

Power to Prevent (PTP) is a lifestyle diabetes prevention program that utilizes the National Diabetes Education Program's Power to Prevent curriculum. The overall goal is to reduce the burden of chronic disease by preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes onset and health complications associated with having type 2 diabetes. Funding was made possible by a 3-year grant received from the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The program has two primary objectives: (1) Overweight participants lose 5-7% of their weight. Normal weight participants maintain their weight and (2) Participants are moderately physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Participants attend one 2-hour class per week for 12-weeks, which includes thirty minutes of low impact physical activity. Groups are co-led by a Community Lay Educator and Registered Dietician. Participants receive two individual sessions with the Registered Dietician. Based upon results from the 57 graduates who have completed pre/post program weight measurements, 18% of graduates lost 5% or more of their weight or maintained a normal weight. Based upon results from the 68 graduates who completed pre/post surveys, participants engaging in 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity per day, at least 5 days per week improved from 35% (pre-program) to 57% (post-program). The PTP program is effective in enabling adults to lose weight and become more active, both of which have been found to reduce one's risk for diabetes and diabetic complications.