“Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes”. National Diabetes Education Program. http://www.ndep.nih.gov/campaigns/SmallSteps/SmallSteps_overview.htm#WhatIs.

Accessed May 23, 2004.

“Small steps. Big Rewards. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes” is a campaign designed by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) in partnership of the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign is designed to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes among high risk populations such as African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and older adults. The campaign is based on a landmark study which showed that those at increased risk for type 2 Diabetes could prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing even small amounts of weight through increased physical activity and a reduced fat and lower calorie diet. Thus, the campaign’s message is that small changes in diet and exercise can provide a big reward in the form of warding off diabetes (especially in those most at risk).

The NDEP seeks to spread this message via targeted information geared towards each of the high-risk groups previously listed. The information is provided through the program’s various components, including: Television, radio, and print public service ads, a publicity campaign featuring Small Steps. Big Rewards. events in cities across the country, a “GAME PLAN” toolkit for both healthcare providers and consumers which provides the latest research findings about diabetes prevention, tips on losing and maintaining weight, educational posters and booklets to use with patients, and a Speaker’s Kit — a slide-script presentation that reviews the key findings from the Diabetes Prevention Program clinical trial and provides an overview of the Small Steps. These components make the “Small Steps. Big Rewards” campaign an ideal tool for launching a diabetes prevention program at the workplace, a senior center, or other community setting. The NDEP invites interested organizations to download and distribute educational materials from their website, and use them as part of Type 2 Diabetes prevention activities and programs. This program provides valuable tools that can be used by health professionals (especially Registered Dietitians) in a variety of settings. It includes simple information on diet and exercise, which combined, provides a comprehensive, unique approach to lowering the risk of Type 2 Diabetes among high risk individuals.