Since 2001, the purpose of the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation project is to prevent and control diabetes through developing coalitions in rural poor counties for people living in Appalachia. The project helps coalitions organize around the problem of diabetes, including planning, implementing and evaluating their specific projects. The community projects help people with type 2 diabetes control their disease and prevent the disease in people who may be at risk. We have worked with coalitions in 91 counties since the project’s inception; 71 coalitions are still active members of the network.

The coalitions received ongoing training and technical assistance and participated in the Appalachian diabetes coalition network. This project is a federal, state, and community partnership involving CDC, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and a team at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at Marshall University that provides direct technical assistance and training for the coalitions.