Lifestyle Education Online Program in Improving Glucose Control and Other Metabolic Parameters

Abstract

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle, including a whole-food, plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can assist in the management and reversal of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a 12-week online lifestyle education program in promoting and supporting healthful outcomes in glycemic control and other metabolic parameters among adults with prediabetes and T2DM. Using a one-group pre-test post-test design, 84 patients were assigned to weekly, online lifestyle education classes. Primary outcomes, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial glucose (PPG), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and changes in insulin and/or medication use, in conjunction with the secondary outcomes of body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were measured pre- and post-intervention. A significant decrease in FBG, PPG, HbA1c, BMI, and FMI was observed (p<0.001). A subgroup analysis was conducted to explore HbA1c reduction in participants who did not use medication/insulin from 6.3% to 6.0%, for medication users from 8.1% to 7.2%, and for insulin and medication users from 8.2% to 6.7%. This study demonstrates that an online lifestyle education program can support individuals with prediabetes and T2DM to improve their glycemic control and other metabolic parameters by adopting a healthy lifestyle within their own environment.