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The Lifestyle Education About Prediabetes (Leap) Study

Testing a Very Low-carbohydrate Diet Version of the Diabetes Prevention Program to Reduce Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: The LEAP (Lifestyle Education About Prediabetes) Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05235425
Acronym
LEAP
Enrollment
304
Registered
2022-02-11
Start date
2022-03-20
Completion date
2025-11-14
Last updated
2025-12-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

PreDiabetes

Keywords

Very low carbohydrate diet, Diabetes Prevention Program, Nutrition therapy

Brief summary

This research will test whether a standard version or very low-carbohydrate version of the Diabetes Prevention Program better improves outcomes like blood glucose control and body weight for patients with prediabetes. Participants will have screening (includes blood draw) and baseline testing with a continuous glucose monitor. Once these enrollment steps are completed and the participants will be randomized to one of two groups: standard National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) or a very low-carbohydrate version. In addition to the diet (12 months) participants will be asked to participate in hour-long weekly group classes over zoom. After four months in the program, classes will occur about every month to help participants maintain the new diet. There will also be check-ins and follow-up visits through out the study.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALStandard NDPP

Participants in this arm will be taught to manage their prediabetes with the Centers for Disease Control's standard National Diabetes Prevention Program. It teaches a lower calorie, lower fat diet. There will be a core phase and a maintenance phase of this study; the core phase will last for about 4 months and will involve weekly or every other week classes, home assignments, and brief check-in surveys. The maintenance phase will last for the remaining time, with classes and check-in surveys approximately once a month.

Participants in this arm will be taught to manage their prediabetes with the Centers for Disease Control's National Diabetes Prevention Program, adapted to teach a very low-carbohydrate diet, also called a ketogenic or keto diet. This diet involves eating non-starchy vegetables, leafy greens, cheese, meats, berries, nuts, and seeds and avoiding starchy foods like pasta, bread, rice, beans, many fruits, etc. There will be a core phase and a maintenance phase of this study; the core phase will last for about 4 months and will involve weekly or every other week classes, home assignments, and brief check-in surveys. The maintenance phase will last for the remaining time, with classes and check-in surveys approximately once a month.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Michigan
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcome assessment and data analysis will be masked

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* overweight, defined as BMI \>= 25 kg/m2 \>= 23 kg/m2 if of Asian descent * HbA1c between 5.7% - 6.4% verified at baseline * willingness to participate in group-based sessions * able to engage in at least light physical activities such as walking * willingness to follow a prescribed diet, be randomized, self-weight, track diet, and report physical activity minutes * physician approval to participate

Exclusion criteria

* history of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes * use of anti-obesity medications or participation in another weight loss program or intervention * use of glucose lowering medications other than metformin * pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the intervention period * breastfeeding * use of oral corticosteroids * previous bariatric surgery or planning to have bariatric surgery during the study period * blood disorders that influence HbA1c, including frequent blood transfusions, phlebotomy, anemia, hemoglobinopathy, polycythemia * any condition for which the study team deems participation to be unsafe or inappropriate * inability to read, write, or speak English * inability to provide informed consent * adherence to a vegan or vegetarian diet * adherence to a very low-carbohydrate (keto) diet * difficulty chewing or swallowing * no influence over what foods are purchased, prepared, and/or served * above weight limit for DEXA (500 pounds) * untreated eating disorder or mental health conditions, such as depression with suicidal ideation, bipolar or schizophrenia with psychosis * use of warfarin * chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or higher * use of loop diuretics: 20mg or higher of furosemide or equivalent (Lasix (furosemide), Bumex (bumetanide), Ederin or Sodium Edecrin (ethacrynic acid), Demadex or Soaanz (torsemide)) * any concerning values in baseline labs (participants will be referred to Primary Care Physician and will be allowed to return for later enrollment if labs are no longer concerning) * Triglycerides 600 Milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher * Thyroid stimulating hormone of any abnormal value * Potassium of any abnormal value

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in HbA1c0 to 12 monthsHbA1c levels will be measured by standard immunoturbidimetric assay methods and quality control measures at a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified lab.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in percent body weight loss0-12 months
Change in glycemic variability0 to 12 monthsThis will be measured with an Abbott Libre Pro continuous glucose monitoring device on participants upper arm and the information on the sensor is blinded to participants. The monitoring device will record participants' glucose levels in the interstitial fluid by a glucose oxidase method every 15 minutes, continuously for 14 days at each time point. T The glucose variability and the proportion of time spent in the euglycemic (3-7.8 millimoles per litre (mmol/l)) and hyperglycemic (≥ 11.1 mmol/l for at least 15 minutes) states, following previous standards for interstitial glucose concentrations.
Change in small particle low-density lipoproteins (LDL)0 to 12 months
Change in Inflammation based on C-reactive protein (CRP)0 to 12 monthsHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein will be measured with nephelometric methods utilizing latex particles coated with CRP monoclonal antibodies and standardized against a CRP reference preparation.
Change in triglycerides0 to 12 months
Change in HbA1c0 to 4 monthsHbA1c levels will be measured by standard immunoturbidimetric assay methods and quality control measures at a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified lab.
Change in high-density lipoproteins (HDL)0 to 12 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 13, 2026