Connecticut State Department of Public Health

The mission of the Connecticut Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) is to create a comprehensive system of care for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Our goal is to reduce the incidence or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and its complications and enhance the quality of life for people affected by diabetes.

History: Since 1994, with the funding and support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), the CT DPCP has worked with partners to increase diabetes awareness to the residents of Connecticut and to provide diabetes information to health care professionals. These efforts are aligned and coordinated with the Ten Essential Public Health Services and the Chronic Care Model.

Program Goals: The Connecticut DPCP serves as a convener of the diabetes public health system. The CT DPCP strives to provide networking opportunities to members of the diabetes system of care in order to examine diabetes issues statewide and to share program successes.

Specific goals are based on priorities established by the CDC and include:

  • Promote awareness of and programs for pre-diabetes among people at high risk for type 2 diabetes
  • Promote participation in American Diabetes Association (ADA) recognized or American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) accredited and/or Stanford licensed diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs
  • Increase use of chronic disease self-management programs in community settings
Administrative goals for the DPCP include:
  • Collaboration and coordination with other chronic disease programs.
  • Provision of training and technical assistance to health care workers, community based organizations and others working on diabetes projects and policy.
  • Promotion of social, environmental and systems approaches to diabetes prevention and control.
The CT DPCP goals and work plan are aligned with priorities of the CDC Division of Diabetes Translation. These include:
  • Improve access to effective lifestyle interventions.
  • Increase diabetes preventive behaviors.
  • Enhance community and environmental strategies to prevent diabetes.
  • Improve the health behavior and self-management practices of people with diabetes.
  • Enhance the access and delivery of effective preventive healthcare services.
  • Improve community and environmental strategies to support people with diabetes.
  • Improve the science of health and healthcare disparities related to diabetes.
  • Prioritize and disseminate public health strategies to eliminate disparities.
  • Build capacity for communication, evaluation, marketing, policy, and partnerships.
Diabetes Statistics Overview in Connecticut

An estimated 8.9% of the Connecticut adult population or approximately 250,000 adults age 18 years and older have been diagnosed with diabetes (2012-2014 data). It is estimated that an additional 83,000 Connecticut adults have undiagnosed diabetes.

Approximately 79 million Americans (or 35% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older) have prediabetes. When this national percentage is applied to Connecticut’s population, more than 930,000 Connecticut adults aged 20 years and older are estimated to have prediabetes.

Costs for Connecticut

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes cost Connecticut an estimated $2.92 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2012. In 2014, approximately $197.8 million was billed for hospitalizations due to diabetes as a principal diagnosis and $79.8 million for diabetes with a lower extremity amputation.

For additional statistics see the Diabetes Surveillance Page.

General Information about Diabetes

What is diabetes? / What are the types of diabetes? / What is prediabetes and how is type 2 diabetes prevented? / How is diabetes diagnosed? / What are the complications of diabetes? / What is diabetes self-management education? / Where do I go for help?

Information for Health Professionals

Diabetes awareness and education materials / Diabetes self-management education centers and community-based programs / Local diabetes prevention programs / Smoking cessation assistance for patients.

Information for Diabetes Prevention and Control Program Partners

Connecticut Diabetes Advisory Council / Diabetes Prevention and Control State Plan/ Links to National Agencies or Organizations / Links to Connecticut Department of Public Health Chronic Disease Programs.

Department of Public Health Contact Information

Connecticut Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP)
410 Capitol Ave, MS 11-CHLS
Hartford, CT 06134
P: (860) 509-7737
F: (860) 509-7855