The year-long, CDC-recognized program has five seats left at Joe Brown Recreation Center, where classes start Oct. 19. The Central City and Algiers groups need at least 10 enrollees each before they can begin.

By Kim M. Braud | October 8, 2026

New Orleans Health & Human Services is enrolling adults in three new groups of its free Diabetes Prevention Program, a 12-month lifestyle-change class for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The groups will meet in New Orleans East, Central City and Algiers.

Only one of the three has a start date.

The New Orleans East group holds its first session Monday, Oct. 19, at noon at Joe Brown Recreation Center, 5601 Read Blvd. The department said five slots remained when it announced the cohorts. The Central City and Algiers groups will not start until at least 10 participants enroll in each, and no dates have been set.

Only one of the three groups has a start date. The other two are waiting on enrollment.

What the program is

The program follows the curriculum of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Diabetes Prevention Program. It runs 22 in-person sessions over a year, meeting weekly at first, then every other week, then monthly. Sessions cover nutrition, physical activity, weight management, stress management and keeping new habits in place over time.

According to the City's program page, the health department is a CDC-recognized provider of the program and one of two CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Programs in the city. Its lifestyle coaches are trained and certified by the American Diabetes Association.

The American Diabetes Association's program directory lists the department's CDC recognition status as preliminary. Under CDC's tiered system, preliminary recognition is an early stage; full recognition depends on participant outcome data a program reports over time.

Who qualifies

The department's announcement describes the program broadly, as open to adults who have been told they have prediabetes, have an A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%, have other risk factors, or want support making lasting changes.

The City's program page sets more specific requirements. Participants must meet all four of these:

  • Be 18 or older.
  • Have a body mass index of 25 or higher, or 23 or higher for Asian American participants.
  • Have no previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  • Not be pregnant.

They must also meet one of these:

  • A blood test in the prediabetes range within the past year: an A1C of 5.7% to 6.4%, a fasting plasma glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL, or a two-hour plasma glucose of 140 to 199 mg/dL.
  • A previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
  • A score of 5 or higher on CDC's Prediabetes Risk Test.

The local numbers

The department estimates that 144,862 adults in New Orleans have prediabetes and that more than 80% of them do not know it. The announcement does not say where the estimate comes from.

Diagnosed diabetes is also more common here than nationally. The City's Chronic Disease page, citing 2023 CDC data, puts the share of Orleans Parish adults diagnosed with diabetes at 13.6%, compared with 11.3% nationally.

"Preventing type 2 diabetes starts with giving people the information, support, and resources they need to take action early," said Lacie Tillman, PhD, the department's Chronic Disease Program manager. "By bringing this program into neighborhoods across New Orleans, we are making it easier for residents to access that support close to home."

Where the groups meet

New Orleans East - Joe Brown Recreation Center, 5601 Read Blvd.First session: Monday, Oct. 19, at noon. Five slots remaining as of the announcement.

Central City- HCH Conference Room, Edna Pilsbury Health Center, 2222 Simon Bolivar Ave.Start date to be announced once at least 10 participants enroll.

Algiers - Morris Jeff Recreation Center (formerly Behrman Park), 2529 General Meyer Ave.Start date to be announced once at least 10 participants enroll.

How to enroll

  • Online: the City's interest form, linked from nola.gov/DPP.
  • By phone or email: Dr. Yolanda Cavalier, Diabetes Prevention Program lead, (504) 658-8916, yolanda.cavalier@nola.gov.
  • In person: New Orleans Health & Human Services, 8th floor, City Hall, 1300 Perdido St.

The department says space is limited. The City's program page says referrals are accepted on a rolling basis until each group reaches a workable size.

Verify it yourself

Kim M. Braud is the Founder & Editor of Evans Cutchmore Press, an independent newsroom covering Louisiana and the Gulf South. Her reporting focuses on government accountability, infrastructure, business, culture, and the public policies that shape communities.

© 2026 Evans Cutchmore Press. All rights reserved.

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