Approximately 30.3 million – or 9.4 percent – of Americans have diabetes. In Michigan, it’s estimated that 1 in 10 people have a form of diabetes. 

The University of Michigan offers services and programs to help faculty, staff and community members who are living with or are at risk of developing diabetes.

U-M Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND) Outpatient Diabetes Education

• Diabetes 101: Taking Charge Patient Handbook  – This 56-page educational handbook for patients with diabetes covers topics like meal planning, carbohydrate counting, monitoring blood sugar, exercise, medications, stress management, how to manage sick days, and much more. Written by certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians, physicians, and MEND staff.
• Diabetes Education Classes – Recognized by the American Diabetes Association, these classes are certified by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
• Free Support Groups – Many have found it helpful to attend a support group, where they can meet others who share their experiences. Gain support and understanding, trade tips and ideas, improve your diabetes self-care, and focus on issues that are important to you.

U-M Health Plans

Talk to your doctor about a referral to a diabetes self-management class, which may be covered by insurance.

Prediabetes Information and Resources

Higher than normal blood sugar, or “prediabetes,” affects up to one in three Americans – and many of them don’t know it. Prediabetes makes a person more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years, and raises the risk of other serious health problems like heart attack and stroke.

The good news is that in many cases diabetes and other health problems can be delayed or prevented through modest lifestyle changes like eating a healthier diet and increasing physical activity.

Start Here

1. Take a short quiz about your risk factors.

To see if you are at risk for prediabetes, take this short quiz about your risk factors for prediabetes. 

2. Talk to your doctor about prediabetes.

If you score 5 or higher on the quiz, talk to your doctor about getting an A1C blood sugar test to check for prediabetes. An A1C test result between 5.7 and 6.4 percent indicates prediabetes. (For more information about prediabetes and diabetes, you may want to check out the CDC's "Your Health WIth Joan Lunden" video series.)  

3. Make modest lifestyle changes.

If A1C testing shows that you do have prediabetes, making lifestyle changes can reduce health risks. MHealthy offers a wide range of programs to employees and spouses/OQAs to support healthy lifestyle changes around weight management, healthy eating and physical activity.

Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

Faculty and staff covered under a U-M Health Plan may partcipate in a Diabetes Prevention Program at no cost if they meet eligibility criteria. The Omada, all-online program is offered to employees and their dependents covered through the Community Blue PPO, Comprehensive Major Medical, GradCare and U-M Premier Care health plans.

Michigan Care members are eligible to participate in the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's Diabetes Prevention Program. Both programs are approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Visit the Diabetes Prevention Program page for details.