Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2020 - 12

Professional News

ADA Diabetes Prevention Program Affiliate Sites Rise
to the Challenges of COVID-19
COVID-19 has created significant challenges in all areas
of diabetes prevention and management. However, some
creative and resourceful American Diabetes Association
Diabetes Prevention Program affiliate sites are still finding
success in helping participants prevent and delay type 2
diabetes through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)-recognized lifestyle change programs.

Background
As part of a cooperative agreement with the CDC, the
ADA has been working with affiliate sites in underserved
areas across the country to implement and sustain
CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs serving
underrepresented populations as part of the National
Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). The ADA
is more than halfway through the third year of a five-year
cooperative agreement implementing the evidence-based
National DPP lifestyle change program in community health
centers or health care systems in seven sites, including
one each in California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, and
Connecticut and two in Texas. These programs aim to
serve specific under-represented populations in their
community including Hispanic, ≥65 years of age, or male.
These subpopulations and others have been underrepresented in previous National DPP initiatives, and
the CDC/ADA cooperative agreement is dedicated to
improving those numbers.

COVID-19 Challenges
Recruiting and enrolling high-risk individuals can be
challenging during normal times, and the COVID-19
outbreak has only added to those challenges. As the
country began implementing stay-at-home orders, the ADA
affiliate sites had to suspend all in-person classes. Many
of their recruitment activities such as health fairs were no
longer possible and had been cancelled. Additionally, inperson office visits between potential enrollees and affiliate
site staff were not possible.
The ADA affiliate sites have had to flex their creativity
muscles to remain in contact with program participants for
retention purposes and with health care providers to support
the continuation of referrals. Participants continued to receive
communications and encouragement from program lifestyle
coaches even while classes were paused, enabling them to
continue making progress on their weight loss and physical
activity goals. With the future of in-person classes uncertain,
lifestyle coaches and program coordinators began planning
to hold classes remotely and to communicate the availability
of remote options to health care providers.

DPP lifestyle change participants practice
social distancing in El Centro, CA.

Each site has responded to these challenges with creativity,
dedication, and a deep understanding of their community
and participants' challenges.

Program Response
As stay-at-home orders remained in effect, programs began
to transition to distance learning. Most ADA affiliate sites
have now resumed their classes remotely, many through
videoconference platforms such as Zoom or conference calls.
They are also connecting with participants in various other
ways. Along with phone calls and texting, some coaches
have used digital options such as WhatsApp, Group Me,
and Facebook; delivered class materials to participants'
mailboxes; and met participants in person with a scale in
tow to perform weigh-ins-all the while maintaining the
recommended 6 feet of social distancing. These lifestyle
coaches truly understand the importance of the program and
work diligently to help their participants be successful.
Initially many participants indicated that they were not
interested in distance learning classes and wanted to wait until
in-person classes resumed. However, as time passed, lifestyle
coaches were able to encourage hesitant participants to try
the new distance learning options. Now, most affiliate sites are
holding distance learning classes with good attendance.
Barriers to online classes for participants included discomfort
with using computer technology and not having a computer,
although most did have cell phones they could connect with.
continued on next page

DiabetesPro Quarterly | SUMMER 2020

Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2020