Diabetes Educators Implementing Primary Prevention: The Group Lifestyle Balance Program

Objective: Diabetes educators (DE) report receiving increasing numbers of physician referrals for patients at risk for diabetes. The project aim is to determine if DEs can effectively deliver a modified Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention at their community-based diabetes education sites.

Methods: The DPP lifestyle intervention has been adapted by the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Prevention Support Center (DPSC) to Group Lifestyle Balance ™, a 12-session group program.  DEs from three diversely located out-patient hospital clinics (urban, suburban, and rural) received training and support for implementation from the DPSC.  Adults with pre-diabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome were eligible to enroll with physician referral.  Using existing DE referral networks, physician engagement was completed via onsite educational in-services, informative letters and e-mail contact.  Newspaper advertisement was also employed.  At present, baseline assessment is complete with year-long follow up planned. 

Results: A total of 81 participants enrolled in the study, (71 female, 10 male).  Participants were primarily white (95%), with a mean age of 53 years.  Approximately 89% were obese with a mean BMI of 37.1 kg/m². Mean glucose, triglyceride, and blood pressure levels were 102 mg/dl, 173 mg/dl, and 128/82 mm/Hg respectively.  Two-thirds (64%) reported taking medication for hypertension and one-third (37%) for cholesterol. 

Conclusion: High-risk individuals were enrolled in GLB using established DE referral systems and newspaper advertisement. Outcomes of this project offer potential for additional prevention services delivered through DEs.