The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

The Sight Center offers a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) called New View. This 12 month program, recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been proven to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, lessening the development of visual impairments and vision loss often associated with the disease. Based on lifestyle changes made through diet and exercise, participants in the New View program can lower their risk of developing diabetes by more than 58%. The goal of the program is to help individuals lose 7% of their starting body weight through healthy eating and increased physical activity.  The program offers support through regular meetings to encourage participants and help to keep their goals on track.

Provided in a group setting, participants engage in detailed lessons and receive resources to best support their weight loss goals through improved diet and exercise. With the help, encouragement and individualized support of a trained lifestyle coach, participants are empowered to :

• Improve their diet through the addition of healthier options.
• Deal with stress in a more positive way and learn to cope with weight loss challenges.
• Accecpt small setbacks as normal and develop skills to refocus attention and efforts in personal goals.

How does DPP work?

The DPP is a year-long program:

• The first three months, you’ll attend weekly meetings.
• The second three months, meetings will be held biweekly.
• The last six months, participants meet once a month.
• During the hour-long sessions, participants lean tips, strategies and skills to help meet personal weight loss goals and increase their level of physical activity.
• In addition to the regular schedule of classes, participants may meet one-on-one with their lifestyle coach and can also receive additional support via phone and email communications.
• Many insurance providers offer this prevention service as a paid benefit. To find out if you’re covered, contact your insurance provider.
• Research shows that pre-diabetic individuals who participate in a diabetes prevention program are able to cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%, higher than any other prevention method.