Registration for 2027 Virtual/Live Cohort is open! The registration link can be found at the bottom of this webpage!
Content
Welcome to the UNL Diabetes Prevention Program. This new program is a partner program of the National Diabetes Prevention Program facilitated by the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
The key components of this program include:
A CDC-approved curriculum with lessons, handouts, and other resources to help you make healthy changes.
A Lifestyle Coach, specially trained to lead the program, to help you learn new skills, encourage you to set and meet goals, and keep you motivated. The coach will also facilitate discussions and help make the program fun and engaging.
A support group of people with similar goals and challenges. Together, you can share ideas, celebrate successes, and work to overcome obstacles. In some programs, the participants stay in touch with each other during the week. It may be easier to make changes when you're working as a group than doing it on your own.
Learn more about this program by watching the CDC Lifestyle Change Program Overview video.
Program Formats
Live/Virtual Format
Participants meet weekly for real-time, one-hour sessions conducted via Zoom. Each session is facilitated by a trained lifestyle coach and follows the CDC-approved curriculum, focusing on sustainable behavior changes related to healthy eating, physical activity, weight management, and stress reduction.
The live format is highly interactive and conversational, allowing participants to engage directly with the coach and peers, share experiences, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback and support. This group-based setting helps build accountability, motivation, and community throughout the year-long program.
All participants must meet CDC Prevent T2 eligibility requirements, and the curriculum is delivered consistently across all sessions to ensure program fidelity.
Asynchronous Format
Participants complete the same CDC-approved curriculum as the live program but do so independently without scheduled live meetings. Weekly learning modules are accessed on-demand, allowing participants to engage with the material at their own pace.
Instead of live discussions, participants interact through structured online discussion boards, where they can reflect on weekly topics, share progress, and engage with peers and facilitators. A trained lifestyle coach monitors participation, provides feedback, and supports accountability throughout the program.
All participants must meet CDC Prevent T2 eligibility requirements, and both content and outcomes align with the standard CDC lifestyle change program model.
Program Eligibility
The minimum requirements for enrollment in this program include:
- Be 18 years or older
- Currently employed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Not be previously diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Not currently pregnant
Must meet 1 of the following requirements:
- Had a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year (includes any of these tests and results):
- Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7%–6.4%
- Fasting plasma glucose: 100–125 mg/dL
- 2-hour plasma glucose (after a 75g glucose load): 140–199 mg/dL.
- Had a diagnosis of gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
- Received a high-risk result ( score of 5 or higher) on the Prediabetes Risk Test.
*Special Notice*
If group space allows, we will accept participants into this program who identify as a support provider for an individual who has been diagnosed as pre-diabetic and who is unable to enroll in this group. Please contact the Associate Director of Employee Wellness, Annalisa Davenport, to learn more about this opportunity.
Time Commitment
Virtual/Live Program:
HealthierU hosts a live version of the program each calendar year (January-December). Participants who register for this version of the program can anticipate the following time commitment:
- From the last week of January through mid-May, participants will meet weekly for one-hour Zoom sessions. The specific day and time will be determined annually based on coach availability. (There will be no meeting during the week of UNL Spring Break.)
- From June through September participants will meet every other week for one-hour Zoom sessions. The specific day and time will be determined annually based on coach availability and will align with the originally scheduled weekly session day and time.
- During October, November and December, participants will meet monthly for one-hour Zoom sessions. The specific day and time will be determined annually based on coach availability and will align with the originally scheduled weekly session day and time.
Asynchronous Program:
HealthierU will now offer an asynchronous version of the Diabetes Prevention program beginning in August 2026. Participants who register for this version of the program can anticipate the following time commitment:
- From August through December, a weekly module will be released on the program platform (HabitNU). Participants will have seven days to complete the weekly reading and assignments.
- From January through July, a monthly module will be released on the program platform (HabitNU). Participants will have seven days to complete the weekly reading and assignments.
2027 Cohort Calendar
The 2027 cohort will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 2-3pm CT beginning January 27, 2027. The meeting cadence will adjust to bi-weekly June-September, and then monthly in October, November, and December.
Please note there will not be a session on March 14, June 30, and August 25, 2027!
| Session | Date | Module | Theme |
| 1 | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 | 1 | Introduction to the Program |
| 2 | Wednesday, February 3, 2027 | 2 | Get Active to Prevent Type 2 |
| 3 | Wednesday, February 10, 2027 | 3 | Track Your Activity |
| 4 | Wednesday, February 17, 2027 | 4 | Eat Well to Prevent Type 2 |
| 5 | Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 5 | Track Your Food |
| 6 | Wednesday, March 3, 2027 | 6 | Get More Active |
| 7 | Wednesday, March 10, 2027 | 7 | Energy In, Energy Out |
| Week of March 14, 2027 | NO SESSION — UNL Spring Break | ||
| 8 | Wednesday, March 24, 2027 | 8 | Eating to Support Your Health Goals |
| 9 | Wednesday, March 31, 2027 | 9 | Manage Stress |
| 10 | Wednesday, April 7, 2027 | 10 | Find Time For Fitness |
| 11 | Wednesday, April 14, 2027 | 11 | Cope with Triggers |
| 12 | Wednesday, April 21, 2027 | 12 | Keep Your Heart Healthy |
| 13 | Wednesday, April 28, 2027 | 13 | Take Charge of Your Thoughts |
| 14 | Wednesday, May 5, 2027 | 14 | Get Support |
| 15 | Wednesday, May 12, 2027 | 15 | Eat Well Away From Home |
| 16 | Wednesday, May 19, 2027 | 16 | Stay Motivated to Prevent T2 |
| 17 | Wednesday, June 2, 2027 | 23 | Stay Active Away From Home |
| 18 | Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | 17 | When Weight Loss Stalls |
| Week of June 30, 2027 | No Session- 4th of July Holiday | ||
| 19 | Wednesday, July 14, 2027 | 18 | Take a Movement Break |
| 20 | Wednesday, July 28, 2027 | 19 | Keep Your Heart Healthy |
| 21 | Wednesday, August 11, 2027 | 20 | Shop and Cook to Prevent Type 2 |
| Week of August 25, 2027 | No Session- First Week of Academic Classes | ||
| 22 | Wednesday, September 8, 2027 | 21 | Find Time for Physical Activity |
| 23 | Wednesday, September 22, 2027 | 22 | Get Enough Sleep |
| 24 | Wednesday, October 6, 2027 | 24 | More About Type 2 |
| 25 | Wednesday, November 10, 2027 | 25 | More About Carbs |
| 26 | Wednesday, December 8, 2027 | 26 | Prevent Type 2 For Life! |
Registration
Registration is now open!
Registration is now available for the 2027 virtual/live cohort!