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NDEP 15th Anniversary: Changing the Way Diabetes is Treated

In 1997, the Federal government launched a program to address the emerging epidemic of diabetes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined forces to create and sustain a partnership of Federal agencies and private/community-based organizations that would dedicate themselves to reducing the devastating effects of diabetes.

Fifteen years later, the progress achieved by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is profound and is changing the way diabetes is treated. Although the prevalence of diabetes is expected to grow over the next 40 years due to an aging population, increases in minority groups that are at high risk for type 2 diabetes, the rising epidemic of obesity, as well as people living with diabetes longer, Program leaders are encouraged to see strong indicators that the diabetes community, coalesced and empowered by the NDEP, has taken progressively potent action to change outcomes:

• Greater awareness that diabetes is a serious disease.
• People with diabetes are taking steps to better manage their diabetes and reduce complications.
• More Americans now know that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented.

The Power of Partnerships

The NDEP is a unique partnership that brings together Federal agencies and a varied and diverse group of organizations and individuals addressing diabetes concerns. These partnerships have sustained the effort over time, contributing greatly to the success of the Program. Learn more about our partners and their tremendous efforts to change the way diabetes is treated in our Partner Spotlight archives.

Looking Ahead: Motivating Lifestyle Changes

In the early years of NDEP, there was an important need to increase awareness of diabetes as a serious disease. While NDEP has been in the forefront of raising awareness about diabetes, we know that more needs to be done to provide resources and tools to support health care providers and their patients when it comes to achieving and sustaining health goals. Looking ahead, the NDEP and its partners will continue to work together to find ways to help people take action and make important lifestyle changes to achieve their health goals – whether they have diabetes or are at risk for the disease. Together with our partners, the NDEP will continue to make a difference in the lives of the 26 million Americans with diabetes and the 79 million more with prediabetes.

Profiles in Change: James Gavin, III, M.D., Ph.D., Past Chair, NDEP

"In its brief history of 15 years, the NDEP has discovered the right formula for having a major impact on changing the way diabetes is treated: it captures the best and latest scientific and clinical findings, and then translates them into culturally sensitive, clinically practical, health systems-friendly recommendations. It is enormously gratifying to see the number of times and the number of settings where I have directed audiences and attendees to use a wide spectrum of readily accessible NDEP materials that constitute the definitive and most practical recommendations on the diabetes care issue under discussion at the time. The NDEP represents the finest example I know of how to fill, with excellence, an unmet need in diabetes treatment and prevention—keep up the fantastic work!"

The NDEP recognizes and thanks Dr. Gavin for his many contributions toward Changing the Way Diabetes is Treated.

From the Archives