A Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program

A Mixed Methods Pilot Study of a Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program Among Individuals With Prediabetes

The investigators will conduct a single-arm mixed methods pilot study to estimate weight loss as well as the percentage of participants who achieve 5% weight loss in a 16-week, Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program (LC-DPP). Weight loss from the pilot LC-DPP cohort will be compared to weight loss outcomes from previously published DPP studies. The investigators will also evaluate secondary outcomes including change in physical activity, mental health, psychosocial functioning, and hemoglobin A1c over the 6-month study period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: PreDiabetes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program

Detailed Description

An estimated 86 million US adults are have prediabetes, and, without intervention, many will develop T2DM over time. Fortunately, T2DM can be prevented or delayed through modest lifestyle changes. The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Trial demonstrated a 58 percent reduction in the 3-year incidence of T2DM among individuals with prediabetes who achieved 7 percent body weight loss and engaged in routine physical activity. Accordingly, the DPP lifestyle intervention has been translated to communities across the United States, and, on average, participant weight change is 4 percent at 12 months. Thus, while group-based DPPs and can effectively promote weight loss among some participants, many DPP participants do not achieve the program goal of 5 to 7 percent body weight loss.

Novel strategies to help participants achieve DPP weight-loss goals are important for two key reasons. First, weight loss is the primary driver of T2DM risk reduction, and the potential population health impact of the intervention is diminished when participants do not lose weight. Second, a growing number of health plans including Medicare offer coverage for the DPP and proposed reimbursement is largely tied to weight loss of at least 5 percent at 6 months and 12 months. The DPP costs approximately $400-$500 per participant per year. Unfortunately, organizations that offer the DPP may be reimbursed for much less than this if participants do not meet weight loss goals, which could significantly compromise the program's long-term financial sustainability.

One promising approach to help DPP participants lose more weight may be through a low-carbohydrate (LC) dietary intervention. Consistent with United States Dietary Guidelines (USDG), the original DPP Trial and translational group-based curricula recommend a low-fat (LF), calorie-restricted diet. However, there is growing controversy regarding the scientific merit of the Dietary Guidelines as well as growing recognition that LC diets may be more effective than LF diets for short-term weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. Notably, weight loss occurs without calorie restriction and LC diets improve blood glucose levels among individuals with T2DM and insulin resistance. Thus, a LC dietary intervention for prediabetes may augment individual weight loss and T2DM risk reduction while also maximizing third-party reimbursement.

The aim of this mixed methods pilot study is to test whether a LC-DPP may lead to greater weight loss than the original DPP. In addition to objective measures of this program's preliminary efficacy (e.g. weight, HbA1c) the study team will also obtain qualitative participant feedback on the intervention. Taken together, these data will be used to improve the curriculum and inform a larger-scale intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Michigan
    • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
      • Michigan Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

1. Overweight, defined as BMI≥25 kg/m2 [31]
2. HbA1c between 5.7-6.4% drawn within 6 months of the study start date
3. Willingness to participate in group-based classes
4. Able to engage in at least light physical activities such as walking.

Exclusion criteria:

1. History of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes
2. Current participation in another lifestyle or behavior change program or research study
3. Vegetarian or vegan lifestyle
4. History of bariatric surgery
5. Inability to read, write, or speak English
6. Inability to provide informed consent
7. Women who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the intervention period.
8. Insured by Premier Care or Grad Care; these individuals have the opportunity to participate in a standard DPP, which is offered as a covered benefit through their health plan.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program; At least 20 individuals with prediabetes will participate in a year-long , group-based program.

Behavioral: Low-Carbohydrate Diabetes Prevention Program; LC-DPP participants will be instructed to follow ad-libitum very low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet, which restricts carbohydrate intake (not including fiber) to 20-35 grams per day with the goal of achieving nutritional ketosis. Participants will be encouraged to eat a normal amount of protein (roughly 80-120 grams per day) and to derive the remaining calories from fat. Allowable foods include: meats, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, seeds, nuts, leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables, and some fruits.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in body weight per participant over the study period	Measured as percent body weight loss per participant	Baseline, 12 months
Percentage of participants who achieve weight loss goal	Measured as percentange of participants who achieve 5% total body weight loss	Baseline,12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in self-reported weekly physical activity minutes	Participants will maintain a log of weekly physical activity minutes	Baseline, 12 months
Change in physical activity measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire	Participants will complete this validated survey	Baseline, 12 months
Change in food cravings measured using the Control of Eating Questionnaire	Participants will complete this validated survey	Baseline, 12 months
Change in stress eating measured using the Palatable Eating Motives Scale	Participants will complete this validated survey	Baseline, 12 months
Change in self-reported health measured using the Global Health PROMIS Questionnaire	Participants will complete this validated survey	Baseline, 12 months
Change in autonomous motivation measured using the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire	Participants will complete this validated survey	Baseline, 12 months
Change in hemoglobin A1c	Measured using a laboratory blood draw	Baseline, 12 months
Session attendance	Measured as the number of sessions attended per participant	Baseline, 12 months
Study attrition	Number of participants lost to follow-up	Baseline, 12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in diet as assessed by qualitative review of foods logs	Participants will maintain weekly food logs	Baseline, 12 months
Change in diet as assessed by response to survey questions	Participants will respond to exploratory survey questions about diet created by the study team.	Baseline, 12 months
Change in physical symptoms	Participants will respond to exploratory survey questions about physical symptoms created by the study team.	Baseline, 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Michigan
• Collaborators: National Kidney Foundation of Michigan

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hafez Griauzde D, Saslow L, Patterson K, Ansari T, Liestenfeltz B, Tisack A, Bihn P, Shopinski S, Richardson CR. Mixed methods pilot study of a low-carbohydrate diabetes prevention programme among adults with pre-diabetes in the USA. BMJ Open. 2020 Jan 21;10(1):e033397. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033397.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 11, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 7, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): November 7, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 15, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): August 23, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 12, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2018
• Last Verified: December 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Hyperglycemia; Prediabetic State; Glucose Intolerance
• Other Study ID Numbers: F046400

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No