Financial Incentives Boost Diabetes Prevention Efforts
A study led by Singapore General Hospital found that combining a diabetes prevention program with financial incentives significantly reduced the progression to type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes.
A Singapore General Hospital (SGH)-led study has demonstrated that integrating financial incentives into a diabetes prevention program can significantly lower the risk of prediabetic individuals progressing to type 2 diabetes. The research, named the Pre-DICTED study, followed 751 overweight or obese adults with prediabetes over three years.
Participants were assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Both groups aimed for at least a five percent weight loss and 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. The intervention group received lifestyle support, including nutrition workshops, exercise sessions, and in some cases, metformin, along with financial rewards for attendance and weight loss.
After three years, the study found that 34.8 percent of participants in the intervention group developed diabetes, compared to 47.3 percent in the control group. The intervention group also showed a higher success rate in achieving weight loss targets, with 30.1 percent meeting the goal versus 15.7 percent in the control group.
The SGH findings suggest that financial incentives, when combined with structured care and lifestyle interventions, can effectively improve adherence and health outcomes. The study also indicated that the program was cost-effective, offering good value for the health benefits achieved, potentially serving as a model for public health strategies.