Creating equitable access to diabetes prevention in Idaho

More than one in 10 Americans has diabetes, including 29% of adults ages 65 and older.¹ In Idaho, 9.8% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, which was the eighth leading cause of death in the state.² Adults who are Hispanic or American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) are disproportionately impacted. Hispanic adults are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and AI/AN adults are nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white adults.^3,4 They are 1.3 times and 2.3 times, respectively, more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to die from diabetes. An additional 97.6 million American adults have prediabetes, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.^5,6

To support more equitable access to evidence-based diabetes prevention, UnitedHealthcare has committed $50,000 to the Diabetes Alliance of Idaho (DAI). The DAI is an organization dedicated to the prevention and reduction of the personal and public impact of diabetes in Idaho. The organization works to improve access to quality health care, increase awareness, provide support through education, and reduce diabetes complications for people across the state. Through funding from UnitedHealthcare, the DAI will establish a microgrant program to enable local organizations to establish National Diabetes Prevention Programs (NDPP) with a focus on older adults and communities that are disproportionately impacted by diabetes. This program will include:

• Start up-awards for organizations to implement a new DPP.
• Pilot awards for organizations already providing DPP to enhance an existing program.
• Continuation awards to provide further enhancements or expansions following the successful completion of a start-up or pilot award.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based curriculum recognized by the Centers for Disease Control.⁷ The year-long program focuses on lifestyle changes like healthy eating and physical activity to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Research has shown that the program reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% for adults and 71% for people over the age of 60. The program has also been found to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke associated with prediabetes and improve participants' overall health. Each program is led by a trained Lifestyle Coach who helps participants build confidence in incorporating physical activity, healthy eating, and stress management into their day-to-day life.⁸

The DAI aims to build more equitable access to the program by prioritizing older adults and people from communities that are disproportionately impacted. The goal is to develop programs with lifestyle coaches who can tailor the curriculum to each group’s cultural preferences and considerations, food preferences, and language needs. In addition to cultural representation, the organization is focused on ensuring the programs are accessible within rural communities, which have been found nationally to experience higher rates of diabetes and additional barriers to managing their health compared to people living in more populated areas.⁹

Each organization will undergo a capacity assessment with support from the DAI to demonstrate its ability to meet standards for CDC recognition. Once accepted, each organization will stand up a cohort group within six months and begin tracking progress through metrics like weight and physical activity levels. The DAI will support ongoing program development and mentorship to maximize each program’s long-term impact on the community.

This program marks a significant step from UnitedHealthcare and the Diabetes Alliance of Idaho to create more equitable access to evidence-based diabetes prevention. By empowering local organizations to offer accessible, culturally appropriate, community-centered programming, people from underserved communities will receive critical support to prevent the onset of diabetes and make sustainable, long-term improvements to their health.