Institute for Health Protection Announces New Resource for Diabetes Prevention and...

Institute for Health Protection Announces New Resource for Diabetes Prevention
and Control in African Americans Through Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
National Diabetes Education Program's Power to Prevent: A Family Lifestyle
Approach to Diabetes Prevention

BOSTON, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute for Health
Protection, (IHP), the premier national organization designed to turn
evidence-based healthcare knowledge into everyday practice at the community
level, today announced a new curriculum designed to provide program leaders
with the tools they need to increase diabetes prevention and control within
African American communities.
Power to Prevent: A Family Lifestyle Approach to Diabetes Prevention
(Power to Prevent) is a product of the National Diabetes Education Program
(NDEP), a joint effort of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NDEP is one of IHP's
unique network channels that enable IHP to bring vital healthcare awareness
directly to communities in need.
"Power to Prevent will be a critical tool in improving the health and
lifestyle of African Americans," said Dr. Clyde Evans, Executive Director of
IHP. "As a member of NDEP, IHP will be working to carry this program into the
communities that need it most. With its focus on families and the social
support provided by communities, Power to Prevent will be an essential
resource in IHP's ongoing efforts to close the gap between our knowledge of
what works to control or prevent diabetes and the actual behavior of
individuals and families. Indeed, Power to Prevent's down-to-earth, practical
approach and focus on behavioral patterns will be useful to any community, not
just African Americans."
More than three million African Americans aged 20 years and older have
diabetes. African Americans are 1.8 times as likely to have diabetes as
non-Hispanic whites of the same age.
"Diabetes is a growing epidemic among African Americans -- yet one third
of all people who have this condition aren't even aware that they have it,"
said Dr. Gladys Gary-Vaughn, Chair of the NDEP's African American/African
Ancestry Work Group. "Power to Prevent gives program leaders the resources
and information they need to help people at high risk prevent or delay type 2
diabetes," she added.
Power to Prevent provides community-based organizations, faith-based
organizations, diabetes educators, and other program leaders with a
step-by-step, easy-to-read resource that best reaches their target audience.
The curriculum consists of:
* Twelve 60-90 minute interactive modules that facilitators can use to
lead small groups in changing to healthier behaviors promoting type 2
diabetes prevention
* Optional additional modules focused on diabetes care and management for
groups that want to know more about self-care or how to help loved ones
with diabetes
* A guide for program leaders that discuss steps for a successful program
* Evaluation tools to help individuals and organizations know if they are
making a difference
* Accompanying CD-ROM with free materials that can be used to enhance the
program

In the 2002 findings of the Diabetes Prevention Program research study,
scientists found that people can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing
weight (5-7 percent of their weight or 10-15 pounds for a person who weighs
200 pounds), eating healthy (consuming less fat and fewer calories) and
participating in physical activity (such as 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days
a week). Power to Prevent is a resource that will help organizations, groups,
and families implement some of these strategies to prevent and control
diabetes. The curriculum was developed by the NDEP's African American/African
Ancestry Work Group, which includes representatives from national minority
organizations, medical professionals, and government organizations that
develop culturally appropriate diabetes education campaigns for African
American audiences.
Power to Prevent can be downloaded or ordered for free at www.ndep.nih.gov
(shipping and handling fees will apply). For additional information on
copyright-free NDEP diabetes education materials, visit the Web site.
The Institute for Health Protection (IHP) utilizes its extensive network
of relationships across a wide spectrum to bring together the right
combination of individual and organizational stakeholders to achieve the
common goal of improving healthcare outcomes in communities that need it most.
For more information about IHP, visit www.ihponline.net.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Diabetes
Education Program (NDEP) is jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the
support of more than 200 partner organizations.
SOURCE The Institute for Health Protection

Sarah Manley, +1-862-202-3785, sarahm@ihponline.net, for The Institute for
Health Protection