Can an app-based intervention support recommended behavioral changes for diabetes prevention? A new project of Prof. Dr. Michael Laxy's Associate Professorship of Public Health and Prevention is investigating this question. The project is entitled "Diabetes Prevention via an App-based Lifestyle Intervention and Continuous Glucose Monitoring - a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial", or "DALIG" for short. The scientific cooperation project is supported by the DAK and will run for four years.
On the one hand, the project aims to analyze the effectiveness of an app and glucose monitoring intervention for the prevention of diabetes mellitus under real conditions in everyday care (Real World Evidence/RWE). Second, process parameters will provide additional insights regarding the feasibility of implementing the intervention in primary care.
In principle, app-based interventions offer a high potential to support recommended behavioral changes for diabetes prevention. Therefore, the integration of such an intervention in primary care will be tested. A total of approximately 300 subjects will be recruited via the Checkup35 screening, which will be conducted at the primary care physician's office. The health check is used for the early detection of diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases as well as diabetes mellitus.
"Patients with an increased risk of diabetes are particularly relevant for us," says Laura Suhlrie, Research Associate at the Associate Professorship of Public Health and Prevention. One criterion for study participation is elevated blood glucose levels. If these are present, further tests are performed to determine whether the patient is eligible as a subject for the study.
"Another focus of the app-based intervention is nutrition," Suhlrie explains. "Within the app, the patient receives individually tailored nutrition coaching. In addition, learning modules can be used in short units as well as a group chat function for mutual motivation." In one study group, continuous glucose measurement is also performed. The data generated from this is fed into the app and can then be discussed with the nutritionist.
Based on the study, which is anchored in everyday health care, insights into new digital forms of prevention in the German health care system will then be gained. "That is what is special about this project," explains Prof. Laxy. "It's not a typical research project, but rather the intervention is being implemented in a real everyday context in GP practices in northern Germany. So the application reference is immediate. We hope this will provide insights into how we can integrate digital innovations, such as apps, into healthcare. In addition, it will hopefully reveal which population groups are most likely to adopt such interventions or what barriers, if any, exist."
To the homepage of the Associate Professorship of Public Health and Prevention
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Michael Laxy
Associate Professorship of Public Health and Prevention
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24977
e-mail: michael.laxy(at)tum.de
Laura Suhlrie
Associate Professorship of Public Health and Prevention
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24995
e-mail: laura.suhlrie(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photos: Shutterstock/private