North Carolina Diabetes Umbrella Program (DERP)
What is the Diabetes Education and Resources Program (DERP)?
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is a chronic disease that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. Self-management education is critical to medical care for diabetics. To address this issue, the NC Division of Public Health has developed a recognized “umbrella” program alongside the ADA to provide self-management diabetes education in local health departments. ADA-recognized programs can bill Medicaid and Medicare and have a sliding scale fee for self-pay clients. North Carolina was the first state to provide a diabetes umbrella program such as DERP.
DERP includes the following curriculum:
- disease progression
- diet
- exercise
- medication review and education
- foot care
- acute and chronic complications
- mental health adjustments
Patients are required to set and sign-off on patient-centered goals for their diabetic condition at every encounter. The staff will measure their success and obstacles at every encounter. On average, patients that complete DERP will experience a decrease in their Hgb A1C by at least one point, experience weight reduction, and gain the ability to monitor their blood glucose level independently.
We welcome patients to DERP. To participate, you must be referred by a medical provider. ADA-recognized programs can bill Medicaid and Medicare and have a sliding fee for self-pay clients. This program allows private providers in Johnston County to refer their patients for DERP.
Referrals to the Johnston County DERP
- Every patient needs a signed referral form from their Primary Care Physician. Lab values are required on the form.
- Once the Johnston County Health Department has the signed form, an assessment will be performed by a registered nurse or registered dietician. This assessment takes roughly one hour to complete.
- Each patient will receive eight total hours of class time (two four-hour sessions) after the assessment.
- The classes are conducted in either a group or individual setting depending on patient need.
- Three months after completing the classes, the patient will return to the Johnston County Health Department for a one-hour follow-up group session.
- A total of ten hours is required to complete the program.
- Once patients complete the program, they will receive a follow-up appointment for two hours of additional education every year.
The Johnston County Health Department DERP Physician Referral Forms are linked below. Please fax the referral form, along with copies of the patient's most recent lab values, to 919-989-5279.
Our goal is to provide the highest possible care for our patients.
More Information and Resources
- American Diabetes Association
- NC DHHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch
- Johnston UNC Health Care: Diabetes Education Program
- Johnston UNC Health Care: Diabetes Support Group
