--- title: "DM prevention & wt loss with an automated beh intervention. | Sutter Health" description: "Alive-PD improved glycemic control, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, TG/HDL ratio, and diabetes risk. As a fully automated system, the program has high potential for scalability and could potentially reach many of the 86 million US adults who have prediabetes as well as other at-risk groups." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/diabetes-prev-wt-loss-automated-beh-intervention-1055312953" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. DM prevention & wt loss with an automated beh intervention. # Diabetes prevention and weight loss with a fully automated behavioral intervention by email, web, and mobile phone: a randomized controlled trial among persons with prediabetes. Block G, Azar KM, Romanelli RJ, Block TJ, Hopkins D, Carpenter HA, Dolginsky MS, Hudes ML, Palaniappan LP, & Block CH. _J Med Internet Res. 17(10):e240. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4897._ 2015-10-23 ## Abstract BACKGROUND: One-third of US adults, 86 million people, have prediabetes. Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and at risk for diabetes. Effective and affordable interventions are needed that can reach these 86 million, and others at high risk, to reduce their progression to diagnosed diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully automated algorithm-driven behavioral intervention for diabetes prevention, Alive-PD, delivered via the Web, Internet, mobile phone, and automated phone calls. METHODS: Alive-PD provided tailored behavioral support for improvements in physical activity, eating habits, and factors such as weight loss, stress, and sleep. Weekly emails suggested small-step goals and linked to an individual Web page with tools for tracking, coaching, social support through virtual teams, competition, and health information. A mobile phone app and automated phone calls provided further support. The trial randomly assigned 339 persons to the Alive-PD intervention (n=163) or a 6-month wait-list usual-care control group (n=176). Participants were eligible if either fasting glucose or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was in the prediabetic range. Primary outcome measures were changes in fasting glucose and HbA1c at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included clinic-measured changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, and Framingham diabetes risk score. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 55 (SD 8.9) years, mean BMI was 31.2 (SD 4.4) kg/m(2), and 68.7% (233/339) were male. Mean fasting glucose was in the prediabetic range (mean 109.9, SD 8.4 mg/dL), whereas the mean HbA1c was 5.6% (SD 0.3), in the normal range. In intention-to-treat analyses, Alive-PD participants achieved significantly greater reductions than controls in fasting glucose (mean -7.36 mg/dL, 95% CI -7.85 to -6.87 vs mean -2.19, 95% CI -2.64 to -1.73, P<.001), HbA1c (mean -0.26%, 95% CI -0.27 to -0.24 vs mean -0.18%, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.16, P<.001), and body weight (mean -3.26 kg, 95% CI -3.26 to -3.25 vs mean -1.26 kg, 95% CI -1.27 to -1.26, P<.001). Reductions in BMI, waist circumference, and TG/HDL were also significantly greater in Alive-PD participants than in the control group. At 6 months, the Alive-PD group reduced their Framingham 8-year diabetes risk from 16% to 11%, significantly more than the control group (P<.001). Participation and retention was good; intervention participants interacted with the program a median of 17 (IQR 14) of 24 weeks and 71.1% (116/163) were still interacting with the program in month 6. CONCLUSIONS: Alive-PD improved glycemic control, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, TG/HDL ratio, and diabetes risk. As a fully automated system, the program has high potential for scalability and could potentially reach many of the 86 million US adults who have prediabetes as well as other at-risk groups. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26499966) ![Kristen M J Azar, RN, MSN, MPH](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/rFmyR1kiX8JzE5-XNwup0gVC1GRaVTlH7oSDlG0Tr5A/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Kristen M J Azar, RN, MSN, MPH Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/kristen-m-j-azar-rn-msn-mph-1049680985) ## Research topics - [Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Diabetes%2C+Insulin+Resistance+and+Metabolic+Syndrome%5C%22%22) - [Food and Nutrition](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Food+and+Nutrition%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Obesity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obesity%5C%22%22) - [Prevention and Health Maintenance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Prevention+and+Health+Maintenance%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Virtual small groups for weight management: an innovative delivery mechanism for evidence-based lifestyle interventions among obese men.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/virtual-small-groups-weight-mgmt-in-obese-men-1055312966) Azar KM, Aurora M, Wang EJ, Muzaffar A, Pressman A, Palaniappan LP. Transl Behav Med. 5(1):37-44. doi: 10.1007/s13142-014-0296-6. 2015 Mar 01 - Publication ### [A Latino Patient-Centered, Evidence-Based Approach to Diabetes Prevention.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/latino-pt-centered-evidence-based-approach-to-dm-prevention-1055312326) Rosas LG, Lv N, Lewis MA, Venditti EM, Zavella P, Luna V, Ma J. J Am Board Fam Med. 31(3):364-374. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.03.170280. 2018 May 01 - Publication ### [Barriers and facilitators to real-world implementation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in large healthcare systems: lifestyle coach perspectives.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/barriers-facilitators-diabetes-prev-program-implementation-1055312731) Halley MC, Petersen J, Nasrallah C, Szwerinski N, Romanelli R, Azar KMJ. J Gen Intern Med. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05744-y. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2020 Apr 06 - Publication ### [Translating an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program into primary care: lessons learned.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/translate-lifestyle-program-in-primary-care-1055312592) Blonstein AC, Yank V, Stafford RS, Wilson SR, Rosas LG, Ma J. Health Promot Pract. 14(4):491-7. doi: 10.1177/1524839913481604. Epub 2013 Mar 28. 2013 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Early weight loss and treatment response: data from a lifestyle change program in clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/early-wt-loss-and-tx-response-in-lifestyle-change-program-1055312721) Romanelli RJ, Sudat S, Huang Q, Pressman AR, Azar K. Am J Prev Med. pii: S0749-3797(19)30421-0. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.014. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Dec 20 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/diabetes-prev-wt-loss-automated-beh-intervention-1055312953#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"DM prevention & wt loss with an automated beh intervention."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/diabetes-prev-wt-loss-automated-beh-intervention-1055312953#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Diabetes prevention and weight loss with a fully automated behavioral intervention by email, web, and mobile phone: a randomized controlled trial among persons with prediabetes.","headline":"DM prevention & wt loss with an automated beh intervention.","abstract":"BACKGROUND: One-third of US adults, 86 million people, have prediabetes. Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and at risk for diabetes. Effective and affordable interventions are needed that can reach these 86 million, and others at high risk, to reduce their progression to diagnosed diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully automated algorithm-driven behavioral intervention for diabetes prevention, Alive-PD, delivered via the Web, Internet, mobile phone, and automated phone calls. METHODS: Alive-PD provided tailored behavioral support for improvements in physical activity, eating habits, and factors such as weight loss, stress, and sleep. Weekly emails suggested small-step goals and linked to an individual Web page with tools for tracking, coaching, social support through virtual teams, competition, and health information. A mobile phone app and automated phone calls provided further support. The trial randomly assigned 339 persons to the Alive-PD intervention (n=163) or a 6-month wait-list usual-care control group (n=176). Participants were eligible if either fasting glucose or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was in the prediabetic range. Primary outcome measures were changes in fasting glucose and HbA1c at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included clinic-measured changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, and Framingham diabetes risk score. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 55 (SD 8.9) years, mean BMI was 31.2 (SD 4.4) kg/m(2), and 68.7% (233/339) were male. Mean fasting glucose was in the prediabetic range (mean 109.9, SD 8.4 mg/dL), whereas the mean HbA1c was 5.6% (SD 0.3), in the normal range. In intention-to-treat analyses, Alive-PD participants achieved significantly greater reductions than controls in fasting glucose (mean -7.36 mg/dL, 95% CI -7.85 to -6.87 vs mean -2.19, 95% CI -2.64 to -1.73, P\u003c.001), HbA1c (mean -0.26%, 95% CI -0.27 to -0.24 vs mean -0.18%, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.16, P\u003c.001), and body weight (mean -3.26 kg, 95% CI -3.26 to -3.25 vs mean -1.26 kg, 95% CI -1.27 to -1.26, P\u003c.001). Reductions in BMI, waist circumference, and TG/HDL were also significantly greater in Alive-PD participants than in the control group. At 6 months, the Alive-PD group reduced their Framingham 8-year diabetes risk from 16% to 11%, significantly more than the control group (P\u003c.001). Participation and retention was good; intervention participants interacted with the program a median of 17 (IQR 14) of 24 weeks and 71.1% (116/163) were still interacting with the program in month 6. CONCLUSIONS: Alive-PD improved glycemic control, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, TG/HDL ratio, and diabetes risk. As a fully automated system, the program has high potential for scalability and could potentially reach many of the 86 million US adults who have prediabetes as well as other at-risk groups.","description":"Alive-PD improved glycemic control, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, TG/HDL ratio, and diabetes risk. 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