NC Minority Diabetes Prevention Program Overview
Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. As of 2023, an estimated 2.7 million North Carolinians have prediabetes, including one-third from racial and ethnic minority groups. Without lifestyle changes, many people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years, increasing their risk for serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, nerve damage, kidney disease and dementia.
In 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly provided funding to NCDHHS to establish and administer an evidence-based diabetes prevention program. These 12-month programs help individuals with prediabetes or those at high risk take charge of their health and can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.
The North Carolina Minority Diabetes Prevention Program (NC MDPP) aims to reduce diabetes disparities in communities of color by implementing a statewide, community-centered framework. The program includes three key components:
- Community Screenings and Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Region-specific prediabetes screening events and culturally appropriate outreach efforts.
- 12-month NC MDPP Lifestyle Class Series: Lifestyle Coaches deliver a CDC-developed curriculum in English and Spanish.
- Community Conversations: Community-centered dialogue that builds awareness, fosters support, and helps identify and address disparities in diabetes prevention and care.
NC MDPP Regional Collaborative Partners engage communities of color across the state by providing screenings, education and access to evidence-based programming.
NC Minority Diabetes Prevention Program Regions
There are 10 regional areas with Minority Diabetes Prevention Program contact leads for each region.
Click on or choose the county to visit the regional MDPP program.
| Region | Contact | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 (light blue on map) | Agustin Britt 828-349-2456 Agustin@mountainwise.org | Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania |
| Region 2 (Olive or brown on map) | Buncombe County Laura Richardson 828-575-2922 Lrichardson@ymcawnc.org | Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Henderson, McDowell, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey Counties |
| Region 3 (Blue on map) | Kasey Wilkie 336-703-3219 Wilkiekl@forsyth.cc | Alleghany, Ashe, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin Counties |
| Region 4 (Purple on map) | Cabarrus County Casey Brown 704-920-1304 Casey.brown@CabarrusHealth.org | Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union Counties |
| Region 5 (Gray on map) | Emanuel Barerra 336-639-4284 Emanuel.barrera@alamance-nc.com | Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph and Rockingham Counties |
| Region 6 (Light green on map) | Samantha Allen 910-715-6271 SEAllen@firsthealth.org | Anson, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and Scotland Counties |
| Region 7 (Light olive or beige on map) | Granville-Vance Frankie Sanchez 252-492-7915 Fsanchez@gvph.org | Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Vance, Wake and Warren Counties |
| Region 8 (Light orange or coral on map) | For inquiries from residents in Region 8, email CPE@dhhs.nc.gov | Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Robeson and Sampson Counties |
| Region 9 (Light purple on map) | Martin, Tyrell, and Washington Miranda Keel 252-793-1663 Miranda.keel@mtwdh.org | Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington Counties |
| Region 10 (Green on map) | Pitt County
| Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Pamlico, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson Counties |
NC Minority Diabetes Prevention Chatbot Program
NCDHHS' Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities is using a Chatbot, created by Wholistics Health, to support diabetes prevention and management for people in North Carolina. The AI-powered chatbot educates users via SMS with micro-doses of evidence-based content addressing diet, exercise, sleep, mental health and social determinants of health. Find out more about the program and sign up on the Wholistics Health website (Spanish).
NC Minority Diabetes Prevention Virtual Assistant
You can use the chatbots below in English and Spanish. Ask the virtual assistant questions like:
- Where is the nearest walking trail?
- What is a diabetes friendly lunch recipe?
Support and Assistance
For questions about the chatbot program, help with enrollment, support using the virtual assistant, or to share feedback, contact us at admin@wholistics.info or text at 919-666-7524.
Testimonials
Some testimonials of people who have used the program include:
- Wonderful words of encouragement. Thank you!
- Great tip that I can certainly try.
- I practice these tips everyday! Great advice!
- I found all the information this tool has provided very useful, especially to gain more knowledge in my minority diabetes prevention program classes. – Lifestyle Coach
Reported that they were eating and drinking healthier foods, had increased their weekly exercise, and improved their mood.
Would recommend this program to others.
Found that the tips were very useful.
Reported that they were sleeping better.