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05-22-2017 | Article

Advisory board comment

Author: Leonard R Bertheau

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Comment on: Retention key for US national diabetes prevention efforts

These initial data are very exciting. The expanded program did not quite produce the robust results achieved in the original DPP (4.2% average weight loss vs 4.9%), but this is to be expected when trying to roll out larger community based programs like this. More importantly, it was found that if participants attend 7 + months of 17 or more intervention sessions, that patients will achieve 6% weight loss (obtaining the weight loss target of 5–7 % set by the original DPP). Eighteen intervention sessions appears to be the threshold needed to help patients achieve the target of 150 minutes of exercise weekly. These give us clear targets to help us in achieving weight loss and exercise goals in this at risk population.

Further investigation is needed to find out how we can encourage our patients to stay involved and complete the necessary sessions in order to achieve these health goals. It also appears that certain demographics are more likely to complete the needed sessions and achieve the target goals, ie, patients aged 65 and above. These patients may be able to spend more time investing in their health and they may better appreciate the value of their health. We may also need to come up with ways to impact other patients in demographics who don’t have the time to invest in their health with novel strategies such as internet based coaching and the use of technologies that can help track progress in achieving diet and exercise goals.

This work is paramount in our success as a nation in regards to the future of healthcare. Spending our resources to prevent diabetes is much more cost-effective than treating the complications that come from uncontrolled diabetes. I am encouraged that more insurance companies are covering such programs. My hope is that this work can continue to grow and, as more programs are developed, more of our patients can avoid costly disease.

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