The Diabetes MATCH Initiative

Mobilizing Access Through Capacity Building and Health

Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance Awarded $50 Million
to Support Diabetes Prevention and Management

Over 130 million adults are estimated to be living with diabetes or prediabetes in the US. In addition to being the 8th leading cause of death, diabetes-related disabilities and other related health impacts result in $327 billion in medical costs and lost wages each year. Inequities in access to care and prevention worsen the problem, as do limited disease prevention and management resources.

A five-year, $50 million grant awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance (Emory Centers) is helping address this need and is being conducted in partnership with the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).

Through this funding, Emory Centers and ADCES provide subject matter expertise, training, and technical assistance to support recipients of CDC companion funding CDC-RFA-DP-23-0020 (DP2320)—which includes state health departments and various types of local and national organizations—as they work to increase access to and delivery of diabetes management and type 2 diabetes prevention and risk reduction interventions for priority populations nationwide.

Through the MATCH Initiative, we provide a range of customized training and technical assistance to ensure 2320 recipients can implement their funded strategies and increase access to diabetes prevention and management programs in their communities.

“The Diabetes MATCH Initiative emphasizes our experience with a collective impact approach that integrates the strength of Emory Centers and ADCES working together with other subject matter experts, community partners, and systems in all aspects of the work,” says Lillian Madrigal, PhD, MPH, director of implementation science and practice with Emory Centers.

Emory Centers has been working to make a difference in diabetes since 2010, when they joined the CDC in launching the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Through its Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC), Emory Centers has worked to scale the National Diabetes Prevention Program in local communities, state and local health departments, organizations, workplaces, and health care systems.

About Diabetes

learn more

In 2021, over 38 million people in the United States were living with diabetes – almost 12% of the entire U.S. population.[1] That year, diabetes cost the nation $640 billion, including $335 billion in direct medical costs and $305 billion in lost productivity.[2] It is the most expensive health condition in the country, and the economic cost of diabetes is increasing (increase of 166% from 2007-2022).[3],[4],[5]

The excess sugar in uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels, which can cause severe health problems, such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and loss of toes, feet, or legs. Fortunately, diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications, which reduce the risk of complications and disability. Diabetes management programs that help people learn how to manage their disease have shown to be cost-effective, with every dollar spent on diabetes prevention and management returning $4 in savings from reduced complications and hospitalizations.[6]

[1] National Diabetes Statistics Report. CDC.gov. Published May 15, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html.
[2] Annual Total Costs Attributable to Diabetes, United States, 2021. CDC.gov. Accessed July 17, 2025. https://nccd.cdc.gov/Toolkit/DiabetesBurden/TotalCost/.
[3] Dieleman JL, Baral R, Birger M, et al. US Spending on personal health care and public health, 1996-2013. JAMA. 2016;316(24): 2627-2646. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16885
[4] Dieleman JL, Beauchamp M, Crosby SW, et al. Tracking US health care spending by health condition and county, JAMA. 2025;333(12):1051-1061. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.26790
[5] Parker ED, Lin J, Mahoney T, et al. Economic costs of diabetes in the U.S. in 2022. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(1):26-43. doi: 10.2337/dci23-0085
[6] Building the Business Case for DSMES. CDC.gov. Published May 15, 2024. Accessed July 29, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-toolkit/php/business-case/index.html.

What Controlling Diabetes Saves

learn more
  • Healthy blood vessels, which protect organs that can be damaged by diabetes. Effective diabetes management can lower the risks of diabetes complications, including a[7]
    • 33%-50% reduction in the risk of heart disease and stroke,
    • 90% reduction in diabetes-related blindness,
    • 85% reduction in diabetes-related amputations, and
    • 33%-37% decline in kidney function.
  • Up to 10 years of life expectancy.[8]
  • Thousands of dollars per person in medical expenses due to diabetes complications.[7]
[7] Health and Economic Benefits of Diabetes Interventions. CDC.gov. Published July 11, 2024. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/priorities/diabetes-interventions.html.
[8] Kianmehr H, Zhang P, Luo J, et al. Potential gains in life expectancy associated with achieving treatment goals in US adults with type 2 diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4): e227705. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7705

Why These Programs Matter

learn more
  • Prevention protects vision and organ function before permanent damage occurs and is far more cost-effective than treating advanced complications in emergency care.
  • Local health systems create their own solutions that reflect the unique needs, priorities, and challenges of the communities they serve.
  • Helping people manage their health keeps them working, independent, and engaged while strengthening communities. Effective chronic disease management reduces absenteeism, boosts productivity, and lowers healthcare costs for families and employers alike.[9] It also contributes to local economic stability, reduces strain on safety-net services, and increases civic participation—key indicators of stronger, resilient communities.
[9] Workplace Health Promotion. CDC.gov. Accessed July 23, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/workplace-health-promotion/.

About CDC’s Diabetes Program

learn more

CDC’s Division of Diabetes Prevention provides information and guidelines on the epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and management of diabetes. CDC also funds organizations serving communities with many people living with undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes. CDC supports these organizations with toolkits, training, and technical assistance through a partnership with the Diabetes MATCH Initiative.