Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
Nearly half of US adults 65 or older have prediabetes, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. But there’s help at hand—you can join the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) and lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, improve your health, and build healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Description
Nearly half of US adults 65 or older have prediabetes, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. But there’s help at hand—you can join the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) and lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, improve your health, and build healthy habits that last a lifetime.
If you have prediabetes, now is the time to act. Preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes can also help you avoid other serious health problems, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
MDPP, part of CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, teaches you how to eat healthy and be more active so you can lose 5% of your body weight.
First, find out your risk of prediabetes with this 1-minute test. If your score is 5 or higher, ask your doctor for a simple blood test to confirm that you have prediabetes. You’ll need to meet these requirements to participate:
- Enrollment in Medicare Part B through original Medicare (fee-for-service) or a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan.
- Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (23 or higher if you self-identify as Asian).
- Results from any one of these three blood tests within a year of starting the program:
- Fasting plasma glucose test result of 110–125 mg/dL.
- Oral glucose tolerance test result of 140–199 mg/dL.
- HbA1C test result of 5.7%–6.4%.
- No history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes (gestational diabetes is acceptable).
- No current end-stage kidney disease.
This program meets virtually and consists of 16 weekly sessions, 3 bi- weekly sessions, followed by monthly sessions for a duration of 24 months.
Technology requirements: Internet access, computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with video and speaker capabilities.