Introduction & Objective: A third of the U.S. population has prediabetes but most are unaware. Knowing one’s status can reduce risk of future Type II Diabetes (T2D); current demand for anti-obesity medication is an opportunity to screen for prediabetes, offer counseling, and, when appropriate, initiate weight loss treatment to prevent T2D. We explored characteristics and outcomes of individuals with prediabetic HbA1C values and no prior diagnosis who sought weight management care on a direct-to-patient (DTP) digital health platform.
Methods: Using EMR data from a random sample of 25,000 DTP patients who completed blood work in early 2023, we assessed characteristics of those with prediabetic HbA1C levels and no diagnosis and evaluated the impact of GLP-1 use on the risk of developing T2D in 3 years via a validated algorithm and t-test.
Results: About a fifth (17.6%) of sampled patients had HbA1C levels of 5.7-6.4. Of those, 73.9% had no prior diagnosis. Undiagnosed patients who started GLP-1 therapy and had a 12 week follow-up weight reduced their risk of developing T2D by a mean of 3.3 percentage points (CI = 2.9-3.7, p <.01).
Conclusion: A substantial number of DTP patients had HbA1C levels indicating prediabetes and no prior diagnosis, benefitting from counseling. Those who started GLP-1 therapy meaningfully reduced their body weight and significantly reduced their risk of future T2D after 12 weeks.
L. Broffman: Employee; Ro Health Ventures. N. Feifel: Employee; Ro. S. Hansen: Employee; Ro. K. Qualliotine: Employee; Ro. Y. Ma: Employee; Roman Health Ventures Inc. K. Stern: None. M. Barnes: Employee; Ro. E. Schmidt: None.
