Diabetes Prevention Toolkit

Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable by taking several simple steps: keeping weight under control, exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. Yet it is clear that the burden of behavior change cannot fall entirely on individuals. Families, schools, worksites, healthcare providers, communities, media, the food industry, and government must work together to make healthy choices easy choices.

This toolkit offers links to dozens of resources to do just that. Among them are evidence-based guidelines and action plans; research reports and surveillance data; tools for families, schools, healthcare providers, employers, and public health policymakers; case studies that showcase local and state efforts to promote healthy eating and active living; and more. Many of these resources focus on food- and physical activity-related policy changes that can promote healthy environments, encourage healthy behaviors, and ultimately, help turn around the diabetes epidemic.

Healthy Eating & Drinking

Dept. of Nutrition, Harvard Chan School of Public Health. Healthy Eating Plate
Dept. of Nutrition, Harvard Chan School of Public Health. How Sweet Is It?
Dept. of Nutrition, Harvard Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source.

Physical Activity & Inactivity

Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Screentime.org.
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

Smoking Cessation and Prevention

National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch. Smokefree.gov.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Tobaccofreekids.org.
World Health Organization. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Families & Homes

American Academy of Pediatrics. Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Families Portal.
Harvard Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity. Food and Fun After School.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. We Can!
The White House. Let’s Move.

Schools & Childcare

Action for Healthy Kids. School Programs.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Healthy Schools Program.
Carter J, Wiecha J, Peterson K, Nobrega S, and Gortmaker SL. Planet Health: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Teaching Middle School Nutrition and Physical Activity, Second Edition. Champaign: Human Kinetics. 2007.
Cheung LWY, Dart H, Kalin S, Otis B, Gortmaker SL. Eat Well & Keep Moving: An Interdisciplinary Elementary Curriculum Nutrition and Physical Activity (Third Edition). Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois, 2016.
Harvard Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity. Food and Fun After School.

Built Environment

Bike sharing system in Metro Boston. http://www.thehubway.com/.
Keener D, Goodman K, Lowr A, et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States: Implementation and Measurement Guide. 2009. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
North Carolina Institute for Public Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Healthy Places By Design.

Media & Marketing

Center for Science in the Public Interest. Report Card on Food-Marketing Policies. March 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social Marketing Resources.
Kaiser Family Foundation. Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. January 2010.
Magnus A, Haby MM, Carter R, Swinburn B. The cost-effectiveness of removing television advertising of high-fat and/or high-sugar food and beverages to Australian children. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009; 33:1094-102.
The Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at UCONN. Cereal F.A.C.T.S. – Food Advertising to Children and Teens Score.
Veerman JL, Van Beeck EF, Barendregt JJ, Mackenbach JP. By how much would limiting TV food advertising reduce childhood obesity? Eur J Public Health. 2009;19:365-9.

Government

Local

Keener D, Goodman K, Lowr A, et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States: Implementation and Measurement Guide. 2009. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene. New York City Vending and Nutrition Standards.
Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study. CHOICESproject.org

State

California Dept. of Public Health and the Public Health Institute. California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition).
Massachusetts Dept. of Health and Human Services. Nutrition Standards for State Agencies. (PDF)
Massachusetts Dept. of Health and Human Services. Mass in Motion.
The Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at UCONN. Soda Tax Calculator.
Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study. CHOICESproject.org

National

Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. New Horizons for a Healthy America: Recommendations to the New Administration. April 2009.
Trust for America’s Health. F as in Fat 2009: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America.

Global

Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, European Union. EU Project DE-PLAN: Diabetes in Europe – Prevention Using Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Nutritional Intervention.
International Diabetes Federation.
World Health Organization. 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

Data for Action

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease Indicators.

Terms of Use

The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.