Michigan Diabetes Prevention Network

Submission Date: August 2014

Entry Type: Case Study

State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: Michigan

States/Territories Involved: Michigan

Other Funding:

NACDD funding

Domain Addressed:

Community-Clinical Linkages

Public Health Issue:

86 million (more than 1 out of 3) American adults have prediabetes, and 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes do not know they have it. Without lifestyle changes to improve their health, 15 – 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.

The Diabetes Prevention Program research study showed that making modest behavior changes helped participants lose 5 – 7% of their body weight and reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in people with prediabetes.

Statewide or regional efforts to raise awareness of prediabetes and promote increased use of the National Diabetes Prevention Program’s (National DPP) evidence-based lifestyle change program can be more effective when they are aligned and coordinated with organizations that are delivering or supporting this program.

Project Objectives:

To build 1 statewide network to support and engage evidence-based lifestyle change program partners, share information and resources, and leverage state and local resources.

Program Action:

The Michigan Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) tackled alignment and coordination of the evidence-based lifestyle change program by creating a statewide network, the Michigan Diabetes Prevention Network. This network was created to support and engage partners, serve as a vehicle to share information and resources, and leverage existing state and local resources. Network partners include Michigan evidence-based lifestyle change program providers, Michigan Department of Community Health programs, and national partners such as the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the Directors of Health Promotion and Education. Additionally, a website was created to house Network resources.

The Michigan DPCP modeled its statewide network, including resource sharing, on the successes of those created by other chronic disease programs. The network leveraged existing relationships with organizations and cultivated new relationships. The DPCP convened the network for conference calls, in-person meetings, and an all-day diabetes prevention conference. The DPCP selected topics based on the needs of the network partners and used input from partner organizations. They maintained contact with partners through distribution of regular newsletters and announcements, which featured resources, information, and upcoming events. Additionally, the DPCP created a website to house resources for easy accessibility to network partners. The website includes a search page allowing providers to seek information on upcoming evidence-based lifestyle change programs.

“By building a statewide DPP Network, we can do more collectively than any one organization can do alone or even working side by side. The Network is a great vehicle to help partners work together, learn from each other, and tap into much needed resources.”       -Kristi Pier

State Health Department Roles

• Assessed needs of diabetes prevention partners
• Planned, coordinated, and executed the full-day Michigan Diabetes Prevention Conference
• Convened state partners for quarterly meetings
• Wrote and distributed network newsletters
• Provided technical assistance to partners, as needed
• Disseminated resources to network partners
• Designed and maintained a webpage for partners with resources and tools for implementing and sustaining local evidence-based lifestyle change program sites
• Created relationships with new partners and engaged new organizations to offer the evidence-based lifestyle change program
• Leveraged network partners to establish local referral systems

Partners

• American Association of Diabetes Educators
• Ann Arbor YMCA
• Botsford Hospital Center for Health and Social Services (CHASS)
• Directors of Health Promotion and Education
• District Health Department #10
• Garden City Hospital
• Holland Hospital
• Hurley Medical Center
• MedNet One Health Solutions
• Metro Health
• Michigan State University Extension Services
• National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
• Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties
• Spectrum Health
• Gerber Memorial
• Spectrum Health Reed City
• University Pharmacy
• YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
• YMCA of Marquette County

Impact/Accomplishments:

• 26 Partners
• 1 Statewide Diabetes Prevention Conference, with 193 attendees
• 4 Partner meetings, with an average of 23 partners participating per meeting
• 85% of evidence-based lifestyle change program providers in the state participated in each meeting
• 6 Partners established referral systems at 88 healthcare sites with 220 healthcare providers

Challenges/Lessons Learned:

Factors Supporting Success

• Dedicated Funding: $121,000
• Ability to share resources through in-person meetings, conference calls, and the website www.midiabetesprevention.org
• Upfront planning for a statewide network to assure sustainability of collaboration long after this grant had ended
• Leveraged internal models of networking and resource sharing
• Created and maintained partnerships to maximize resources
• Accessed experts within and outside the state to expand skill and knowledge base
• Involved partners in planning of meetings, conferences, and website to ensure applicability to the specific target audience
• Developed a website to allow programs to promote activities and search for resources

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Limited funding
Solution: Worked efficiently within the funding constraints, including using the network to ensure resources were not duplicated

Challenge: Many partners voiced challenges around the expansiveness of the evidence-based lifestyle change program structure
Solution: Provided individualized support by helping partners strategize and problem-solve; also provided tools, including a free database to document and report outcomes

Challenge: The direct communication loop between CDC and the evidence-based lifestyle change program providers impacted the role DPCP had established with its long-term partners
Challenge: Competition among network partners could reduce resource sharing and collaboration
Solution: Provided information and resources with fairness and inclusiveness

Next Steps:

The Michigan DPCP will continue to maintain the Michigan Diabetes Prevention Network by convening partners and providing technical assistance. The Network webpage will be maintained through at least 2014.

Program Areas:

Diabetes

State Contact Information:

MI
Jennifer Edsall
Michigan Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
(517) 335-8378
edsallj@michigan.gov

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