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About the National Diabetes Education Program

NDEP logo

The National Diabetes and Education Program (NDEP) works collaboratively with its partners at the federal, state, and local levels to improve the treatment and outcomes for people with diabetes, promote early diagnosis, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. NDEP is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Learn more about the current NDEP Chair, Dr. Sue Kirkman. 

NDEP’s History

NDEP was founded in 1997 to translate the findings of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), which showed—that improved blood glucose levels can make a big difference in reducing complications associated diabetes. Since then NDEP has worked to translate findings of other major studies into practice including, but not limited to:

  • United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) – In response to the findings of the UKPDS, NDEP outreach evolved to address the ABCs of diabetes: comprehensive control of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
  • Follow-up to the DCCT and UKPDS studies – In response to the findings of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, which continues to monitor DCCT patients over time, and the UKPDS 10-year follow up study, the NDEP encouraged early identification and management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes to reduce eye, kidney, nerve, heart, and blood vessel complications.
  • Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study and Diabetes Prevention Program and Outcomes Study (DPPOS) – In response to the findings from the DPP showing that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through modest weight loss and regular physical activity, and the 10-year follow-up to the DPP, the DPPOS study - the NDEP has created messages and materials for health care professionals and people at high risk for prediabetes.

In 2012 NDEP celebrated its progress through its 15th anniversary (PDF, 2.2 MB) .

Awareness Campaigns

Together, NDEP and its partners promote messages to the public and health care professionals through multiple awareness campaigns.

Diabetes Management

  • Control Your Diabetes. For Life. Campaign – Emphasizes the importance and benefits of controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol on diabetes.
  • Managing Diabetes – It's not easy, but it's worth it. – Communicates the seriousness of diabetes, the importance of managing the disease to prevent or delay complications, the idea that managing diabetes is not easy but it is worth it, and the importance of making a plan.
  • Diabetes and Heart Health – Emphasizes the link between diabetes and heart disease and the importance of managing the ABC’s of diabetes — A1C, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol — and stopping smoking.

Diabetes Prevention

  • Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes. Campaign – Emphasizes that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. To better reach groups at high risk for diabetes — those whose family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander — materials and messages were tailored by audience.
  • Family Health History and Diabetes — Raises awareness about family health history an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In fact, most people with type 2 diabetes have a family member – such as a mother, father, brother, or sister – with the disease.
  • It’s Never Too Early…To Prevent Diabetes – Raises awareness that women with a history of gestational diabetes are at lifelong risk for type 2 diabetes and steps they can take to lower their future risk, as well as future risk to their offspring.

Contact NDEP

Contact healthinfo@niddk.nih.gov with any questions.