According to the CDC, 37.3 million individuals in the United States currently have diabetes, while of these, 8.5 million are undiagnosed. In addition, more than 1 in 3 Americans currently have prediabetes—or higher than normal blood sugar levels—but 80% of this population is unaware they even have the condition. The American Diabetes Association estimates diagnosed diabetes costs the country $327 billion annually.

Obesity is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Data from 2018 show 42.4% of the United States population is obese, marking a steep increase from the 30.5% reported in the year 2000.

Type 2 diabetes is preventable, and programs like the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) have been proven to lower disease incidence among those at high risk via dietary changes and other lifestyle interventions.

To learn more about how employers are leveraging the DPP to reduce diabetes rates among their workforce, The American Journal of Managed Care® sat down with Jill Hutt, vice president of member services at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health (GPBCH).

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Hutt explains the Coalition’s efforts to reduce diabetes rates through the DPP, the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes prevention, and how employers looking to get involved in the initiative can join.