What is the Diabetes Prevention Program?

• The first nationwide research study designed to determine if adult onset (type 2) diabetes can be prevented through diet and exercise, or medication.

• Sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (part of the National Institutes of Health) and is being administered at 27 medical centers across the country.

Why is this study needed?

• The U.S. has seen a tripling of diabetes over the past 30 years; since 1983, the number of people with diabetes has increased by 50 percent.

• 16 million Americans have diabetes and nearly 800,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. This number will continue to increase as the American population grows older and becomes more sedentary.

• Diabetes can cause serious complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, and amputation.

• The health care costs of diabetes account for 15% of U.S. health care expenditures each year - $105 billion.

 

Who is participating?

• The MedStar Research Institute is recruited 169 participants age 25 or older who have a condition known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).  People with IGT have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but no high enough to be considered diabetes.

 

What are are the risk factors that increase the likelihood of having IGT?

• have a family history of diabetes

• are older

• are overweight

• have a history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)

• are a member of certain ethnic groups including African American, Hispanic American, Asian, Pacific Island American , and American Indian.

For further information on this study please call

MedStar Clinical Research Center
650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Suite 50
Washington, DC 20003

202-675-6010