NCDHHS
RALEIGH — In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the expansion of the Minority Diabetes Prevention Program — an initiative dedicated to reducing the rising rates of diabetes in certain communities. This program provides culturally responsive education, early screening, and personalized resources to empower individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes to take control of their health.
"While diabetes can affect everyone, it continues to disproportionately impact certain groups," said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Debra Farrington. "Access to prevention and support must reflect the unique needs of those we serve, and the Minority Diabetes Prevention Program is designed to close that gap and promote healthier futures for all."
The North Carolina Minority Diabetes Prevention Program was first established in 2017 by the North Carolina General Assembly and has now entered a new phase of expansion with the launch of its official program website and a statewide awareness campaign.
Diabetes continues to be one of the biggest health challenges facing North Carolinians, with about 1 in 8 adults in our state living with diabetes. Since 2021, diabetes-related deaths have risen by about 25 to 40 percent in some parts of our state, especially in rural and eastern North Carolina.
As of 2023, more than 2.7 million North Carolinians have prediabetes, a condition where people have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One-third of these individuals belong to a racial or ethnic minority group. American Indian, African American and Hispanic/Latinx North Carolinians face the highest rates of diabetes, and Black adults are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed as white adults.
"Type 2 diabetes can be prevented — and even reversed in many cases — with early screening and healthy lifestyle support," said Portia Pope, Ph.D., director of the NCDHHS Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. "Prevention improves lives by reducing the risk of complications and helping individuals enjoy a higher quality of life for years to come."
The North Carolina Minority Diabetes Prevention Program, managed by the NCDHHS Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, is the only free, statewide diabetes prevention program focusing specifically on minority populations. NC MDPP is year-long lifestyle program that helps people lose weight, eat better and get moving, ultimately helping people with prediabetes lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.
The program consists of three key parts:
- Prediabetes screening events in each region;
- Free 12-month class series led by regional lifestyle coaches available in English and Spanish; and
- Community conversations to build awareness and support around health issues within the impacted communities.
Contact your local health department or go to NC Minority Diabetes Prevention Program webpage to find free classes and prevention programs near you. Additional resources are also available through the NC Diabetes Advisory Council’s new Guide to Diabetes Prevention and Management.
