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01/23/2008

Institute For Health Protection Announces New Resource For Diabetes Prevention And Control In African Americans Through Healthy Eating And Physical Activity

National Diabetes Education Program’s Power to Prevent: A Family Lifestyle Approach to Diabetes Prevention Emphasizes the Importance of Family Support

BOSTON, January 22, 2008 – The Institute for Health Protection, (IHP), the premier national organization designed to turn evidence-based healthcare knowledge into everyday practice at the community level, today announced a new curriculum designed to provide program leaders with the tools they need to increase diabetes prevention and control within African American communities.

Power to Prevent:  A Family Lifestyle Approach to Diabetes Prevention (Power to Prevent) is a product of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a joint effort of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  NDEP is one of IHP’s unique network channels that enable IHP to bring vital healthcare awareness directly to communities in need.

“Power to Prevent will be a critical tool in improving the health and lifestyle of African Americans”, said Dr. Clyde Evans, Executive Director of IHP.  “As a member of NDEP, IHP will be working to carry this program into the communities that need it most.  With its focus on families and the social support provided by communities, Power to Prevent will be an essential resource in IHP’s ongoing efforts to close the gap between our knowledge of what works to control or prevent diabetes and the actual behavior of individuals and families.  Indeed, Power to Prevent’s down-to-earth, practical approach and focus on behavioral patterns will be useful to any community, not just African Americans.”

More than three million African Americans aged 20 years and older have diabetes. African Americans are 1.8 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of the same age. 

“Diabetes is a growing epidemic among African Americans -- yet one third of all people who have this condition aren’t even aware that they have it,” said Dr. Gladys Gary-Vaughn, Chair of the NDEP’s African American/African Ancestry Work Group.  “Power to Prevent gives program leaders the resources and information they need to help people at high risk prevent or delay type 2 diabetes,” she added. 

Power to Prevent provides community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, diabetes educators, and other program leaders with a step-by-step, easy-to-read resource that best reaches their target audience. The curriculum consists of:

• Twelve 60-90 minute interactive modules that facilitators can use to lead small groups in changing to healthier behaviors promoting type 2 diabetes prevention
• Optional additional modules focused on diabetes care and management for groups that want to know more about self-care or how to help loved ones with diabetes.
• A guide for program leaders that discuss steps for a successful program
• Evaluation tools to help individuals and organizations know if they are making a difference
• Accompanying CD-ROM with free materials that can be used to enhance the program

In the 2002 findings of the Diabetes Prevention Program research study, scientists found that people can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing weight (5–7 percent of their weight or 10–15 pounds for a person who weighs 200 pounds), eating healthy (consuming less fat and fewer calories) and participating in physical activity (such as 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week).  Power to Prevent is a resource that will help organizations, groups, and families implement some of these strategies to prevent and control diabetes.  The curriculum was developed by the NDEP’s African American/African Ancestry Work Group, which includes representatives from national minority organizations, medical professionals, and government organizations that develop culturally appropriate diabetes education campaigns for African American audiences.

Power to Prevent can be downloaded or ordered for free at www.ndep.nih.gov (shipping and handling fees will apply). For additional information on copyright-free NDEP diabetes education materials, visit the Web site.

The Institute for Health Protection (IHP) utilizes its extensive network of relationships across a wide spectrum to bring together the right combination of individual and organizational stakeholders to achieve the common goal of improving healthcare outcomes in communities that need it most.  For more information about IHP, visit www.ihponline.net.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than 200 partner organizations.

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