CHRONIC DISEASE CONTROL BRANCH

Type 2 Diabetes Program (T2DP)

Our Program

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body can process glucose, a type of sugar ¹. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable produce insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and be converted to energy, on its own ². Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is either unable to make enough insulin or is not using insulin properly to maintain healthy blood sugar levels ². Type 2 diabetes is typically a result of physical inactivity, poor dietary choices, and excess body fat, while type 1 diabetes usually onsets prior to adulthood and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder ². Without proper treatment and management of diabetes, severe health complications such as heart attack, stroke, vital organ damage, and death can occur ¹.

Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in California ³. In 2021, 3.2 million (about 1 out of every 9) adults in California had diabetes, with approximately 90% of these diagnoses being for the preventable type 2 ⁴. An additional 5.9 million (about 1 out of every 5) California adults had prediabetes, putting them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes ⁴. The purpose of the Type 2 Diabetes Program (T2DP) is to provide diabetes management resources and support to Californians diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, as well as to provide prevention interventions and tools to Californians at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Program Background

The Type 2 Diabetes Program is a program in the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) within the Chronic Disease Control Branch (CDCB). The work of T2DP aligns with the missions of both the Department and Branch. The mission of CDPH is to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities, and the mission of CDCB is to prevent and optimally manage chronic disease to ensure all Californians experience good health and well-being. T2DP supports these missions and aims to increase the access, enrollment, and retention of Californians enrolled in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services, National Diabetes Prevention Programs (National DPP), Medicare Diabetes Prevention Programs (MDPP), and Family Healthy Weight Programs (FHWP).

Program Funding

T2DP is funded by a five-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) entitled “A Strategic Approach to Advancing Health Equity for Priority Populations with or at Risk for Diabetes” (CDC-RFA-DP-23-0020) (July 2023 through June 2028).

Program Partners

T2DP has partnered with several organizations to implement statewide strategies for diabetes prevention and management.

Fresno County Department of Public Health

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Madera County Department of Public Health

Merced County Department of Public Health

Monterey County Department of Public Health

Sacramento County Department of Public Health

The Skinny Gene Project

Touro University

Program Strategies

T2DP and partners implement six strategies state-wide with a focus in areas with disproportionately underserved, uninsured, and underinsured people with or at risk of diabetes and prediabetes. T2DP utilizes a multi-level, coordinated and targeted approach with a health equity focus, and implements program activities and evaluation of interventions to ensure short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term outcomes. T2DP strategies to support public health efforts to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes are the following:

Strengthen self-care practices by improving access, appropriateness, and feasibility of DSMES services for priority populations.
Increase enrollment and retention of priority populations in the National DPP lifestyle intervention and the MDPP by improving access, appropriateness, and feasibility of the programs.
Expand availability of the National DPP lifestyle intervention as a covered health benefit for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and/or employees and covered dependents at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Implement, spread, and sustain evidence-based, family-centered childhood obesity interventions.
Increase and sustain DSMES and National DPP delivery sites within pharmacy networks and chain pharmacies to improve reach to priority populations.
Improve the sustainability of Community Health Workers (CHWs) by building or strengthening a supportive infrastructure to expand their involvement in evidence-based diabetes prevention and management programs and services.