The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative helps participants achieve moderate weight loss by eating well and being active.

What is the Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative?

The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative (SDFI) is a multi-state faith-based program created by The Balm In Gilead, Inc., to expand the access and utilization of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). Delivering the Centers of Disease Control’s PreventT2 curriculum, SDFI brings together community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, employers, insurers, health care professionals, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, specifically among communities of color.

National DPP is a partnership of public and private organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. As a partner, the Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative makes it easier for people at risk for type 2 diabetes to participate in the evidence-based lifestyle change program to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.

Why Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative

The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative creates a sustainable infrastructure within faith-based institutions to effectively deliver the National Diabetes Prevention Program’s curriculum. Through the program, participants across six states are learning the skills they need to lose weight, be more physically active, and manage stress. If you suffer from prediabetes or other risk factors of type 2 diabetes, you can make a change to improve your health.

Program Overview

SDFI is a year long program designed for people with prediabetes. It is also designed for people who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and want to lower their risk. SDFI is offered at no cost to eligible participants and is a covered benefit by many health insurance providers to include Medicare. Employers may also choose to offer SDFI-DPP as a wellness benefit to its employees and their families.

Program Structure

The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative utilizes the PreventT2 curriculum, developed by the CDC. All participants are assigned a certified PreventT2 lifestyle change coach to guide and encourage you through your journey.

Over the course of a year, SDFI participants engage in 16 core modules designed to help them lose 5-7% of their starting weight over the first 6 months followed by 10 maintenance modules to help them keep it off. In addition, the Prevent T2 curriculum stresses that each participant engage in 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week. These program components are the basis to this evidence-based program designed to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. SDFI is free to all participants.

Program Goals

The Southeast Diabetes Faith Initiative helps participants achieve moderate weight loss by eating well and being active.

By the end of the first six months, the overall goal is to:

     Lose at least 5 to 7 percent of your starting weight.
     Get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

By the end of the second six months, the goal is to:

     Keep off the weight you have lost.
     Keep working toward your weight goal.
     Continue getting at least 150 minutes of activity each week.