48-PUB: Implementation of a Student-Tailored Version of the Diabetes Prevention Program

One-in-four young adults have prediabetes in the US so there is a need to adapt evidence-based programming, such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). To address this important public health concern, we are testing a student-tailored DPP in a pilot RCT during the 2023-24 academic year.Undergraduates at a major university were recruited in the first three weeks of the academic year using a self-administered eligibility form assessing type 2 diabetes risk. Survey responses and feasibility outcomes are described.

Among 875 completed surveys, 315 students (36.0%) met DPP eligibility criteria. Of eligible students, 28 (8.9%) disclosed a diagnosis of prediabetes, 309 (98.1%) met BMI-based eligibility criteria, and 15 (4.8%) had a qualifying score on the CDC risk test; 29 (9.2%) students met more than one criteria. Compared to ineligible students, eligible students were statistically (p<0.05) more likely to be Hispanic/Latinx (36.2% vs 23.9%), have a family history of diabetes (41.0% vs 27.9%), physically inactive (23.5% vs 15.4%), food insecure (35.2% vs 23.4%), financially vulnerable (30.8% vs 21.8%), and report high levels of personal stress (54.0% vs 43.4%); groups were similar with regard to sex (74.5% female overall). We successfully enrolled our target of 80 participants into the trial. Enrolled participants were similar to eligible participants except for being younger (mean age 19.7±1.4 vs 20.9±4.2) and more likely to be Hispanic/Latinx (48.8% vs 36.2%). Sixty invited students declined participation, the most commonly cited reason was the time commitment (29, 48.3%).

Both the demand and need for diabetes prevention among university students was high. We were successful in reaching socioeconomically vulnerable and diverse students, who stand to benefit the most from targeted diabetes prevention.