DPP 30th Anniversary - DPPOS

Pierre Kleiber

Participant

Honolulu

"A large measure of gratitude needs to go the other way, to all the DPP(OS) staff who are running a program that is a significant and positive part of my life"

This is a reminiscence about the annual DPP or DPPOS luncheons. These were splendid affairs ably organized for the participants by the clinic and research staff. The food was great and there was no diet-shaming about how much or what we chose to put on our plates (including desserts). There were other activities like games and prize drawings. I remember one luncheon where some of the staff persons announced from the podium words of much gratitude to the participants for their continued participation in DPP over the years. Hearing such high words of thankfulness, I as one of the participants was moved to rise to the podium and say that a large measure of gratitude needs to go the other way, to the all the DPP(OS) staff (researchers, clinicians, and secretaries) who are running a program that for me personally is a significant and positive part of my life and I suspect is the same for the other participants in the program.

Lillie Delores Benson

Participant

New York

"If I could help one person/family and myself weather this illness, then it would be worth it."

Hello, my name is Lillie Delores Benson. I am the youngest of 4 children born into an intact family in the 1950s. I grew up in the projects in Mount Vernon, NY, on the south side of town.

Growing up, my best friend was Valerie W. (the 2nd oldest of 4 children), we were as they say "2 peas in a pod." When I met Valerie, she was missing her left ring finger. Of course, as a curious child, I asked her what happened. She told me it had gotten infected, and they had to cut it off. She never mentioned the unspoken word diabetes or what was known in my community as "the sugar." We had a wonderful childhood filled with lots of memories. 

As we grew older, we drifted apart, I went to college, and Valerie stayed at home. We still remained in contact, but we're not as close. As the years passed, I learned that Valerie had passed away. At her funeral, her mother told me her foot got infected, and they wanted to remove her toe. Valerie knew the consequences of not getting her toe amputated.  She refused to get the operation and ultimately passed away. From Valerie's passing, I learned about diabetes and its effects.

When DPP was getting started, and they were looking for participants, my PCP at the time told me about the program and asked me if I wanted to participate. Valerie quickly came to mind, and I said, of course. It looked like I wasn't going to be eligible to participate until the very last day, the test results came back, and I was diabetic. If I could help one person/family and myself weather this illness, then it would be worth it.

This journey has not been easy. I have had my share of ups and downs, and through all the stages of this program, the main constant has been everyone involved with this valuable program. I have gained friends, gained knowledge about living with diabetes and hopefully helped/helping others with the results coming out of this study.

On a personal note, 2 of my other siblings had/have diabetes.  I have also learned that my mother was diabetic. I never knew this until my brother sent me an old picture of my mother who was very obese. She lost all of that weight and I never knew her to be that size.

Jane Lehmer

Participant

Washington

“I’m just pleased to be able to make a small contribution to this larger research effort.”

Lehmer first began quilting after her retirement in 2017, taking classes with the local guild in Republic, a small town in the Okanagan highlands of Washington, near the Canadian border. She bought a longarm sewing machine, which she kept in the loft of her home.

There are two phases to quilting, a fusion of art and craft. There is the construction of the quilt top, where the intricately designed patterns are sewn, then there is the layering of the top with the batting and backing fabrics.

“I basically draw figures and patterns while sewing the three layers together,” she says. “Some people have computerized machines, but mine is completely hand-guided.”

Lehmer quickly established a small business, moving the longarm into a small quilting cottage on her property, a dedicated space to focus on her craft. She stands as she works, often listening to murder mystery audiobooks.

Standing is important. As a participant in the Diabetes Prevention Program since 1998, Lehmer has prediabetes. “As an adopted child, I had no idea what my genetics were, so to find out that I’m prediabetic was very fortuitous,” she says. In addition to walking her dog and riding her recumbent bicycle, standing by her longarm is a key part of her daily exercise. “I’m just pleased to be able to make a small contribution to this larger research effort.”

To read more of Jane's story and learn about how she created the cover of Diabetes Care Volume 48, visit the October Issue's website.

Photo and text source: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/10/1649/163433/About-the-Artist-Jane-Lehmer

Connie Girtin

Participant

"I also meet some great participants. Carl ending up being my neighbor and he would drive me to activities. God Rest his soul. Sue I. and I still play Words with Friends."

"I was blessed when I became part of DPP. I was randomized into the Lifestyle group.

Marsha was my first of many wonderful case managers. I remember bringing my Blue books in to Marsha, and her asking me why I drank a Coke!! She scared me into losing weight!!!

Lisa Testaverde was another wonderful person I met. My husband loved talking sports with her.

I also meet some great participants. Carl ending up being my neighbor and he would drive me to activities. God Rest his soul. Sue I. and I still play Words with Friends.

We did some crazy things like a scavenger search at the Cherry Creak Mall. Alexis and her husband taught us Tai Chi in the park.My daughter was 2 years old when I started and she was there on our walks and picnics.

It wasn't all fun and games, we had learning opportunities. Food diaries, cooking, nutrition were a few of the lessons we learned.

When DPP evolved to DPPOS we lost a lot of our contact time with our case managers but they still had time for us.

Thank you all for being a part of my life for 30 years."

Sharon Edelstein

Research Team

George Washington University

"When my kids were little we would go on DPP walks together and we all talked about healthy grocery shopping and meal preparation."

Way back in 1993, I was working at UCSD in San Diego. My boss – Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor – was submitting a grant in response to an RFA about diabetes prevention and asked me to help her write the statistical section. Nearly a year later when my family was about to move to the Washington DC area, I started applying for jobs. I interviewed at the George Washington University Biostatistics Center for a biostatistician job on a brand new study… the Diabetes Prevention Program! That grant I had helped write a year earlier! It was meant to be.

I was blessed to work on DPP for more than 30 years – helping design the original protocol, determining the primary outcome, tracking recruitment, retention, and study adherence, monitoring early results, and ultimately working on many many papers emanating from DPP and DPPOS. And what a blessing it's been – the science and practice changing study, the many hundreds of investigators and staff across the country who became not only my colleagues but my friends, and the direct impact DPP has had on me and my family.

When my kids were little we would go on DPP walks together and we all talked about healthy grocery shopping and meal preparation. When my husband and my father were each diagnosed with prediabetes, I sent them to their doctors with the original DPP primary outcome paper, and each of them insisted that they start taking metformin! Since then, my husband has embraced the lifestyle intervention and has lost about 40 pounds, maintaining a very active and healthy lifestyle. My now grown family is still all about DPP – all of them committed to a healthy lifestyle including daily exercise.

As for me, I spent over 30 years working on DPP and DPPOS, mostly focusing on everything related to data. When I retired in March 2025, I became a certified DPP lifestyle instructor and I'm now leading my first cohort of patients – continuing my DPP story from a whole new direction!! I've totally come full circle and for that I am forever grateful. Lastly, I am most appreciative to the nearly 4000 participants from across the country who literally have given their lives to be a part of this study. You are the true blessing.

~ Sharon Edelstein, DPPer 1994-2025

Kathleen Graham

Participant

New York

"Over the years she has taken pride in helping produce data underscoring the advice that she and other medical professionals give to patients with diabetes."

[Kathleen Graham, a 56-year-old nurse in the Bronx] said that as part of that study, she had recently undergone tests and had her gait analyzed for early signs of any neurological problems. Over the years, she said, she has taken pride in helping produce data underscoring the advice that she and other medical professionals give to patients with diabetes.

Photo and text source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/nyregion/columbia-research-grants-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.404.Xobt.rEkq7tSb7q_E&smid=url-share

My parents' wedding, 75 years ago, with their parents and grandparents.

Nina Peskoe Peyser

Participant

New York

"We clearly felt that we were informing the field and our involvement would benefit the future."

My career as a health care administrator began 50 years ago, and at first it centered around treatment for people with substance abuse issues. Our primary drug treatment program involved methadone maintenance, a proven effective medication for heroin addiction. But our patients and our treatment program were often criticized by individuals who said we were just substituting one drug for another. We countered with the example of insulin for the treatment of diabetes. No one imposed value judgments on diabetic patients who couldn't manage their condition solely by diet and willpower, so why were patients being treated for substance abuse disparaged for taking medication that reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms?

The political climate at the time forced our program to have extensive waiting lists of people who wanted treatment but could not be admitted. Finally, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit New York, the public health leadership started to realize that getting injection drug users into treatment was a very effective way to reduce many of the risky behaviors that led to the spread of HIV. We extended the clinical program to embrace research projects, especially focused on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the respectful treatment of people who had been exposed to the HIV/AIDS virus while they were actively using drugs.

This began my exposure to the clinical and epidemiological research field, and I created a department for research administration. Part of educating myself and my staff about human subjects research included learning about protections, regulations, informed consent, Institutional Review Boards, and ethical issues, and we decided that we would each enroll in some sort of research study to see how it felt to be a participant.

Several people in my extended family had been greatly affected by diabetes, including my grandmother (who lost a leg), my uncle (who played the piano professionally until diabetes-related neuropathy made that impossible), and my brother-in-law (who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes while in his 20s). So when I saw an announcement about participating in a research study to prevent diabetes, I jumped at the chance. I was so lucky that the Diabetes Prevention Study was at a nearby hospital, and that I was eligible based on my personal risk factors and my family history. I was able to see both sides of clinical research: the professional administrative processes (and, to be fair, some of the associated bureaucracy and hurdles) as well as the vantage point of a research subject (including what seemed like a lot of blood draws and questionnaires). I could tell that the research staff cared very much about the well-being of the participants.

We all were reminded that a research subject is not guaranteed any direct benefit from the study--but we clearly felt that we were informing the field and our involvement would benefit the future. We were treated with dignity and support, and even now, more than 25 years later, it is overwhelmingly clear that the research staff and investigators prioritize us.

The personal satisfaction that I get from knowing that my contributions have already resulted in improved knowledge and opportunities for preventing diabetes in other families would be reward enough. In my case, I have also been very fortunate in that I have not developed diabetes, and I am very sure that it was my early involvement in this study that happened to randomize me to the study medication arm that in fact prevented my progression to diabetes.

This is one of my favorite symbols for Diabetes.

Cathy Schouten

Participant

Michigan

"For anyone considering joining any Study Group today - your commitment to Research could be life-saving and life changing for someone someday."

In 1998 I was leaving the office of a specialty doctor at UCC Hospital and noticed a list of studies being done there - one being a study for Diabetic Prevention. All at once I thought of my grandfather and my aunt (Father and Daughter) who had developed diabetes. At that point I realized I had an opportunity to possibly be a participant in the Diabetes Prevention Program Study Group.

I have been involved in DPP and DPP-OS for 27 years. I remember the day I was accepted to the Study. A noisy bell rang loudly in the hall, which indicated my sugar level was above the normal limits and I qualified for the study.

I decided to commit to the study with a realization that my drive would be 1-hour from my home to the UCC Hospital. But I also began to think about the importance of any study and its impact on health problems and diseases and the impact the study could be for persons (adults and children) diagnosed with Diabetes.

The Grants that are received are another important part to a study and that encouraged me to continue on with the study knowing that the possibility of the work being done could help families in years to come.

During the study, I moved from Illinois to Michigan and my drive to UCC would be a 4-1/2 hour drive to the hospital. I was blessed that the Diabetes Study Doctor and the Study Coordinators let me continue with a remote connection that I could respond to the questions, have lab work done and provide the information they needed.

After the DPP Study was completed, I continued on in the DPP-OS Studies realizing the lifesaving opportunities and impact that could be available to the Physicians and their Patients.

My family has watched me take my blood sugar and blood pressure daily and adjusting my diet when needed for the Life Style Group I was in from the beginning of my involvement as a participant.

The Study has definitely been a commitment in a persons life and I commend all the people in our DPP Study Group for their involvement these past 30 years.

For anyone considering joining any Study Group today - your commitment to Research could be life-saving and life changing for someone someday.

Jennifer Levatino

Research Team

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

"The relationships that I have developed with the study participants have meant the most to me, I am grateful for each of them."

I have had the privilege of working on the DPPOS study for 16 years and have been at Pennington Biomedical Research Center for 20 years. Of all the studies I have coordinated here at Pennington, the DPPOS study has been the most meaningful to me. The relationships that I have developed with the study participants have meant the most to me, I am grateful for each of them. The impact this study has had on research of Type 2 diabetes and how it impacts the world is outstanding. Along with the relationships I have developed with the study participants, I have also made many friends with my fellow research associates. I will be forever grateful for each of them and the scientists who have made the DPPOS Study so successful!

Drema W

Participant

University of Chicago

"There was no research being done during my mom's time and now that there is, so many people are benefiting, lives are being extended, and there is more awareness."

I attended a Health Fair in 1998 and stopped by the University of Chicago's DPP table. It was of interest to me because I have a family history of diabetes. So, I took the brochure, read it, did my research, contacted the UofC the following week, and the rest is history. Being in the DPP for the last 27 years has taught me how to take care of my health and to be intentional about it. My husband even benefited because when I changed my life, it also changed his. I have learned to eat healthy, exercise, and pay attention to my body. Over the course of the study, I learned how to lose weight and maintain that loss in a healthy way, and to pay attention to other health indicators such as cholesterol, kidney function, eyes, heart and feet. I feel this study was a godsend for me because my mom and 3 of her siblings had diabetes, as well as my grandmother. My grandmother, my mom and one of her sisters died as a result of diabetes. With that family history, I knew it would be a miracle if I did not get it. There was no research being done during my mom's time and now that there is, so many people are benefiting, lives are being extended, and there is more awareness. I am glad that I am a part of the study/research and hope that this study/research continues so that more people can become more educated and learn to take more control of their health. I am an advocate for my own health, and I will do anything to improve it, so I would tell anybody who is considering joining a research group, to just do it. What do you have to lose? The benefits will always outweigh the cons, and it may help save your life or at least improve it.

Gary Sheehan

Participant

Boston MGH

"I am proud to have been in this program because I continue to learn things I would never have known about myself."

I sit here on Veterans Day morning. This week I received a request for my inputs on DPP.

Yes, I am a proud veteran of the Vietnam era. I am also a proud veteran of DPP. I joined the program in 1998 after being diagnosed with elevated blood sugar. You may say I failed when I crossed over to diabetes in 2000. However, I feel blessed because as the program doctors and nurses etc pointed out that I was diagnosed at the earliest possible time. That has helped me to better understand how my body was working.

I later in 2009 had a heart attack which required a stent to repair the blood flow to my heart. I still didn’t look at this as a failure. The success is that I am here to tell you about it. I have learned that Diabetes can lead to heart issues. I went to cardiac rehab for several weeks which included a segment on diet. It was amazing to me that the staff treated me like royalty because I was in the DPP program. At that time the program was still DPP and not yet DPPOS (outcome study). Today it is the benchmark around the world in type 2 diabetes treatment.

I am proud to have been in this program because I continue to learn things I would never have known about myself. I have been looking into why I have diabetes. I was asked to volunteer to help with controlling a large refinery fire while in the service. It burned for a couple of days before the professionals' replaced volunteers. It’s likely that the exposure there could have caused Insulin Resistance which over time leads to pre-diabetes and eventually diabetes.

So, staying healthy is my goal and staying active helps keep my numbers in check.

Pamela

Participant

Washington, DC

“Historically, it has been difficult to get African Americans to participate in any research study. I realized if I don’t participate, scientists won’t have the critical data they need."

Pamela, a 72-year-old communications specialist who lives in the Washington, D.C., area and has written for both Reader’s Digest and McCall’s Magazine, had always lived an active lifestyle, having been an avid runner and even a member of a ski team. It’s not surprising she takes her health seriously since her mother, who had type 1 diabetes, always taught Pamela and her five siblings from a young age to value their health and made sure they recognized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. So, in the summer of 1997 when Pamela received a postcard in the mail that invited her to be tested to see if she qualified for participation in a new research study on possible ways to delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, she jumped at the chance. “I went in, got tested, and found out I had prediabetes, which qualified me for the study … so I signed up right away.” She was randomized to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention group on October 1, 1997, and so her journey of participating in a clinical trial began.

After several months of diet and exercise with support from DPP clinicians, Pamela achieved her initial goals and even surpassed her 7 percent weight-loss target. She does admit, though, that it was not always easy. In the beginning, she did not quite care for documenting everything she ate, though she appreciated the study coordinators. As she puts it, “I was judging myself … but the study coordinators had no judgment. They were data-driven and incredibly supportive and encouraging to all of the participants.” She says the intervention changed the way she approached her daily activities—it forced her to pay close attention to exercise consistency, portion sizes, and reading nutrition labels.

After those initial months of the lifestyle intervention, the good results for Pamela just kept coming. She put in the effort and learned that, with the support of her DPP doctor and study coordinators, she had the power to change the course of disease. Part of that support included the fact that the DPP team organized group events, such as holiday dinners and baseball games, so that participants could meet and inspire each other. The study team even encouraged them to bring along friends, which turned out to be helpful to Pamela. “If I bring a friend to an outing, maybe the next day I recruit them for a run. It’s easier to exercise with a friend.”

Soon after the DPP came to an end, and the DPPOS was beginning, Pamela knew she would remain a participant. She had worked hard and had seen the fruits of her labor—losing weight and preventing her prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes—but that wasn’t the only reason. She was also motivated by her mother’s fight with her illness, and she realized the significance of her participation in clinical research. “Historically,” she says, “it has been difficult to get African Americans to participate in any research study. I realized if I don’t participate, scientists won’t have the critical data they need…. Diseases manifest differently in different races and sexes … it’s so important.”

Beyond the recommended goals of weight loss and exercise, Pamela also noticed the DPP lifestyle program provided her with other health benefits like better stress management. Life has a way of handing you challenges, and it certainly did for Pamela. Throughout her years in DPP, she drove her mother to medical appointments because her job afforded her more flexibility than her siblings, and she helped her mother deal with many of the complications common to both major forms of diabetes. In 2002, Pamela’s region was rocked by a frightening development—a sniper began terrorizing the area at random. This effectively halted her outdoor runs. And, in 2008 the economic recession hit, which negatively impacted Pamela’s consulting job as a writer. But she looked to the knowledge she had gained about lifestyle change from being a DPP participant and was able to minimize her stress through breathing techniques, in addition to keeping her diet and exercise routine as healthy as possible when each change in circumstances arose.

Pamela has now been a participant in DPP/DPPOS for more than 23 years, a remarkable contribution to scientific research—and also to her own health. Today, not only has she prevented the development of type 2 diabetes, but she no longer has prediabetes and has achieved and maintained an impressive 12 percent weight loss—a testament to her incredible dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a DPP/DPPOS participant. When discussing her appreciation and respect for the DPP doctors and nurses, she goes so far as to say if she had to do it all over again, she would choose a career in science or medicine. “This is one of the best things to ever happen to me, to have had this opportunity to be part of this program…. Self-management is a discipline. It’s not always easy, but it’s something we need to strive for. It’s a journey, and DPP was the catalyst for me.”

Pamela is proud to have contributed to the DPP’s success, and when asked what she would tell someone considering participating in a similar clinical trial she doesn’t hesitate: “I’d tell them to do it! And, I’d even go with them!” Without Pamela and her fellow DPP/DPPOS participants, there might still be no proven way to prevent type 2 diabetes. Thanks to their efforts, a healthier world has become possible.

Thank you to NIDDK for sharing Pamela's story! To read stories from other NIDDK-funded research, visit their website.

Photo and text source: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/clinical-trials/personal-stories/contributing-type-2-diabetes-prevention-research

Here are my husband and I with our 6 grandkids which provide me with great incentive to delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Sybil A

Participant

MGH Boston, MA

"Today my HBA1C is 5.6 and I know it is all due to me gaining such life changing knowledge and being in this wonderful program."

When I joined the DPP in 1999, I knew I was at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes because my paternal grandmother had her leg amputated due to type 2 diabetes. Also I had gestational diabetes during two of my pregnancies. My HBA1C was 6.4.

I didn’t know much about how diet and exercise affected my chances of developing type 2 diabetes. At the DPP, l learned how being mindful of the food groups and caloric intake, as well as doing at least 150 minutes of activity a week could delay me from developing type 2 diabetes .

Today my HBA1C is 5.6 and I know it is all due to me gaining such life changing knowledge and being in this wonderful program. I also had the opportunity to interact with the research and clinical staff as well as other participants. Thank you all for helping me change my life for the better.

Sue Shapiro

Research Team

Washington, DC

"I have learned so much from this exceptionally loyal and dedicated group."

I was once asked what stands out as one of my most meaningful projects and without hesitation, I answered the landmark DPP/DPPOS study. I have had the privilege of working on this study since 1998 and it has been meaningful to me for many reasons both on a professional and personal level. The science behind the DPP/DPPOS and the significant impact the results have had in Type 2 Diabetes, and the Diabetes community at large speaks for itself, and I feel very proud to have contributed to its success.

On a personal level, it has been my interactions with the DPP/DPPOS study participants that have been the most meaningful. We have together built unique relationships over the years, and I feel as though I have an extended family of about 100 members. It is said it is the simple moments of human interconnectedness that are the bedrock of our existence, and I am so thankful for the many years of interconnectedness shared with my study participants. The participants tell me they are thankful for all the study has done for them, but it is I that am thankful for all they have done for me.

I have learned so much from this exceptionally loyal and dedicated group, mostly on aging gracefully and the importance of faith and a positive attitude.

It has been quite a colorful journey these past 27 years for which I will be forever grateful to have been an active participant.Thank you DPP/DPPOS!!

Maria Montez

Research Team

Texas

"It was a wonderful experience meeting so many scientists, nurses, dietitians, and biostatisticians nationwide and the long-time friendships that are still on-going!"

This is Maria Montez, Program Coordinator for DPP since the beginning of DPP until my retirement in May 2018. It was a wonderful experience meeting so many scientists, nurses, dietitians, and biostatisticians nationwide and the long-time friendships that are still on-going! We provided research-based care to our many study participants and community service to our states nationwide! Congratulations DPP for 30 years of science and service to our states nationwide! Enjoying my retirement cruising around the world!

My photo is from a recent trip to Florence, Italy, at a cooking class. Ravioli!

Diane Jennings

Participant

University of California San Diego

"I know that I am providing information for the research, but I have gained so much information to help me be healthy!"

I was working as a school secretary in 1997 and noticed a postcard inviting people with various symptoms to contact the UCSD DPP Research team. I had a few of those symptoms and after testing, was entered into the program. I knew from the start that being a part of this program would be life changing for me and so many others. At the end of DPP I was diagnosed with diabetes. I continued on with DPPOS and am so grateful for "my" team. All the research and clinical staff are amazing. Through the years because of the support I have received, I have been healthy and in control of my diabetes. My doctors have been impressed with my participation in such a professionally run research program. I know that I am providing information for the research, but I have gained so much information to help me be healthy! 

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes about 15 years ago and his doctor prescribed medication and a glucose monitor. He gave him absolutely no information on how to handle his diabetes. Fortunately, I was able to share some information with him based on what I have learned. 

A few months ago, I met a young man in Hawaii. He told me he was a team member at a facility in Alaska that is part of the Diabetes Prevention Program. I told him I am still a participant in this study and he was excited to talk with me! Wow! It was so exciting for me to meet someone working with this remarkable research!

 A very special shout out to Dr. Medalier and Karen Vejvoda and all the team at UCSD. Thank you to all for helping me to be a healthy woman!! 

A picture of me and my four children

Robin Butler

Participant

University of Chicago

"The women in the program made all the difference. They listened, they encouraged, and they created a space where I felt understood."

My journey began during my first pregnancy. When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, my doctor warned me to watch what I ate. Thankfully, my husband--who loved to cook--took charge of my meals, and my pregnancy went smoothly. After having three more children without any diabetes concerns, I thought I had moved past it.

Then one day, someone from the DPP program reached out. They explained that because I had gestational diabetes once, my risk of developing diabetes later in life was much higher. Even though I hadn't developed it yet, I decided to join the program after my fourth baby--and I'm so grateful I did.

DPP taught me how to recognize my risks, build healthier habits, and stay in control. I'm not perfect; I still get off track sometimes. But now I know exactly how to bring myself back to a healthier path.

The women in the program made all the difference. They listened, they encouraged, and they created a space where I felt understood. Because of their support, I now live a much healthier, cleaner lifestyle.

Joining DPP has been transformative for me, my family, and my community. Before this program, I knew almost nothing about diabetes--no one in my family had it, and I'd never seen research or education like this in my neighborhood. 

It's time for all communities to have access to the information, data, and support they need. I'm proud to be part of that change through the DPP program.

-Robin B.