Introduced to the diabetes community in June 1997, the NDEP is a federally funded initiative that is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the NIH and the Division of Diabetes Translation of the CDC.  The NDEP involves public and private partners whose purpose is to improve treatment and outcomes for people with diabetes, to promote early diagnosis, and to prevent the onset of diabetes.  The program’s sponsoring agencies provide a firm basis of credibility, commitment, resources, and links to state and local public health agencies nationwide.  The participation of the full range of diabetes organizations and the program’s partnership with over 200 health professionals, community, consumer groups, and private sector organizations provide an opportunity for a wide dissemination of the NDEP’s messages and continued growth.  The NDEP program has made substantial progress in carrying out its program strategies.  Major accomplishments include the development of:

• Guiding principles for diabetes care;
  
• A strong partnership network;
• A public education campaign to increase awareness of the importance of diabetes control, with special emphasis on racial and ethnic populations;
• The first national, multicultural public education campaign on diabetes prevention;
• Tools and resources for people with (or at risk for) diabetes, health care providers, employers, and other partners; and
• Initiatives to improve access to quality health care services.

To obtain more information about the NDEP and it many resources, visit the website at http://www.ndep.nih.gov/.  Also visit the NDEP Better Diabetes Care website at http://www.betterdiabetescare.nih.gov/. This site provides information, models, links, resources and tools to help health care professionals prevent and treat diabetes in the patients they serve.