Geographic Analysis of Access to the National Diabetes Prevention Program in New York State

Objective: Prediabetes affects 1.7 million adults in New York State (NYS), with higher rates among racial/ethnic minoritized and low socioeconomic status populations. This study examined access to the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) - an evidence-based program to prevent/delay diabetes onset - among NYS residents with prediabetes. Methods: Self-reported prediabetes diagnosis, zip code, and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from a sample of 39,095 adults from the 2021 NYS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. National DPP site location and recognition status were obtained from the CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Registry. Geospatial analysis defined 30-min drive-time buffers around National DPP sites. The proportion of NYS residents with prediabetes living within a 30-min drive of a site was computed. Results: Prediabetes prevalence ranged from 5.6%-18.5% across counties; ten counties had rates >15%. There were 117 National DPP sites in NYS. The majority of residents (84.3%) with prediabetes lived within a 30-min drive of a site. Access varied by race and ethnicity, with greater access among Black, Asian, and Hispanic than among White respondents. Conclusions: Although most NYS residents with prediabetes have access to the National DPP, areas of unavailability remain. Expansion efforts should focus on counties with high prediabetes rates and limited program availability.