Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program: A Complete Guide for 2026

In this article: 

• Prediabetes is a condition with blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but lower than in diabetes. Half of adults over age 65 have prediabetes and are at higher risk for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. 
• The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a program based on a landmark study in which participants who made simple lifestyle changes prevented or delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes. 
• The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is a year-long program that includes structured sessions that include education, coaching, and support to make healthy and lasting lifestyle changes. 
• Main goals for MDPP participants are to lose 5-7 percent of body weight, and to increase physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. 
• Eligible seniors who are in Medicare Part B or Part C (Advantage) can participate in a MDPP at no cost to them in 2026. Lark offers a fully online MDPP that’s available through your phone. 
• Lark offers a virtual MDPP that you can participate in with your smartphone. It’s available 24/7 for coaching, support, encouragement, and information. 

If your recent bloodwork showed an A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%, you have prediabetes. That can feel daunting because it puts you at higher risk for a diagnosis of diabetes, but knowing that you have prediabetes gives you an advantage. Most people with prediabetes don’t know that they have it - but if you do, you have the benefit of having the chance to take charge. 

Simple lifestyle changes can lower your risk for developing diabetes - including if you’re over age 65. In addition, help is available. Medicare offers a preventive benefit to eligible enrollees: the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP). The MDPP is:

• 100% covered - no co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles for eligible members
• Science-backed - piles of research support effects of lifestyle changes to lower blood sugar
• Designed to impact - supports realistic, small lifestyle adjustments that can become lifelong habits for sustainable effects

In 2026, Medicare covers fully digital MDPP - like Lark. You can get the benefits of the MDPP without any drawbacks like scheduling conflicts or transportation barriers. Here’s a complete guide for 2026 to the MDPP. 

MDPP Eligibility: Who Qualifies for Medicare Coverage?

Medicare Part B preventive services and Medicare Part C (Advantage) both cover MDPP for eligible participants, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). You may be eligible for for MDPP as a covered benefit if you:

• Are overweight or obese, with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² (or 23 kg/m² for Asian Americans)
• No previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
• Blood sugar within the prediabetic range from a qualifying lab test within the past year, as shown in the following table.

Ask your healthcare provider if you need a lab order or where you can go to get your blood sugar tested. 

An exciting change for MDPP in 2026 is that prior MDPP or DPP participation does not disqualify you. If you’ve been in MDPP before, you may still be eligible for MDPP in 2026.

How the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Works: An Overview of the 12-Month Structured Program

The MDPP is a year-long program designed to support you in making lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on blood sugar levels. There are two core program goals:

1. Losing 5% of your starting body weight
2. Achieving at least 150 minutes per week of at least moderate intensity physical activity

You’re not on your own in the MDPP - there’s a supportive environment and carefully planned sessions. There are 26 sessions during the year, including 16 sessions in the first 6 months, and 10 sessions in months 7-12. Each session has: 

• Targeted educational materials to help you learn about different lifestyle changes and tips for making them work, including examples for different lifestyles
• Opportunities to log your weight, track physical activity, and talk about your progress
• A chance to talk to a CDC-certified lifestyle coach to help you make changes and take small steps

You might learn about carbohydrates one week, getting active another week, boosting motivation, or increasing sleep in different ways. 

With Lark’s digital MDPP, additional opportunities may include webinars, private social media groups to talk to your peers and coaches, and the opportunity to get a wireless scale when you sign up at no cost to you. 

Weight Loss in MDPP: Achieving 5% with Simple Swaps

Losing weight can be challenging, but the MDPP takes a different approach than many programs. For example, the goal of 5% of weight loss is a more moderate amount than some programs that aim for higher amounts of weight loss. The 5% goal is more achievable than higher amounts, and it’s enough to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar for many people. 

In addition, the MDPP supports small changes that can fit into your lifestyle. The goal is to turn these healthy changes into habits that can be sustainable for the long-term. They may not lead to quick results like more dramatic changes might, but keeping them up can lead to lasting benefits for health. 

Here are some examples of nutritional targets and how you might work towards them in small steps. 

Lark’s digital coach helps you make healthier food choices as you log foods, get instant feedback, and chat with your coach anytime, anywhere.

Goal 2 in MDPP: Lowering Blood Sugar with Activity

The MDPP sets a goal of helping you achieve targets of at least 150 minutes per week of at least moderate-intensity activity. MDPP sessions help you get there with simple tips and strategies, and you get to track your progress each session. 

These are examples of moderate-intensity activities. 

• Brisk walking or hiking
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Playing tennis
• Gardening, raking, or sweeping

Track your workouts in Lark for more personalized coaching - and there’s more! Lark can help you reduce negative effects of sedentary behavior as you break up sitting time with light activity. It’s a simple change that has a major impact on your metabolism. 

MDPP: A Research-Backed Program

A common question for seniors with prediabetes is whether there’s anything you can do about high blood sugar. Evidence suggests that you can! The MDPP is based on proven results from research on lifestyle change programs, as described in the journal Diabetes Care. 

In the studies, participants had goals of losing 5-7% of body weight and increasing physical activity to 150 minutes per week - just like in the MDPP. These studies found that participants in lifestyle change programs lowered their risk of developing diabetes by over 50% - and older adults had greater benefits!

The MDPP is a supportive program that helps you make these same changes. Lark’s digital coaching program adds empathy, practical tips, and an always-available platform so you can be engaged anytime, anywhere. 

Digital versus In-Person MDPP

There are many choices when you are looking for a MDPP to join. Some providers offer in-person programs. Lark offers a fully digital program that you can access using your smartphone. 

Here’s a comparison of in-person and online programs. 

How to Check Your Eligibility and Enroll Now!

The first step is to check your blood sugar. Consult with your healthcare provider to find out how you can get an A1C or fasting blood sugar test - these are common blood tests that most labs do routinely. 

If your blood sugar is in the prediabetes range and you are a Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage enrollee, you may be eligible for Lark MDPP. 

See If You Qualify at No Cost to You

Lark's Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program offers personal health coaching delivered right to your phone - built around the same CDC-recognized program that showed a 71% risk reduction in adults over 60. There is no cost to eligible Medicare members. 

Lark can help you stay on track with your weight and health goals as you log, track, and chat. Your Lark coach is available 24/7 for encouragement, nutrition and physical activity coaching, and habit tracking. Lark can help you make healthy choices and establish habits that fit into your lifestyle so you can lose weight and keep it off with or without GLP-1 medications. 

Click here to see if you may be eligible to join Lark MDPP or another Lark program today!