Diabetes is one of the most pervasive and expensive chronic diseases: It affects an estimated 30.3 million people in the United States and costs a staggering $245 billion per year to treat. In addition, there are 84.1 million adults in the United States with high blood sugar levels in danger of developing type 2 diabetes.
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It is widely acknowledged that the most effective method of treating these prediabetics so they don’t become full-fledged diabetics is diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) that follow a protocol validated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the challenge has been to get people to enroll in them in the first place and stick with them if they do.
Omada Health, a digital therapeutics firm focused on preventing obesity-related chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, has made significant strides in achieving both with the 120,000 prediabetics who have participated in its program. Its success demonstrates the potential of digital health services, and its approach can serve as a model for applying such services to other chronic diseases. We studied Omada’s program as part of our Harvard Medical School initiative to identify and share knowledge about innovative approaches to major health challenges that primary care providers play the lead in treating.
One of the barriers to getting prediabetics to participate in these in-person programs is the time and expense required to travel to and attend them. Omada addressed these obstacles by creating a 16-week online behavioral-counseling curriculum with modules on nutrition, physical activity, and strategies to minimize stress. The company worked collaboratively with the CDC and was one the first three digital DPP providers that the agency recognized for meeting its evidence-based standards.
Three critical lessons can be distilled from the Omada experience:
Adopt a validated approach. Rather than create a new prevention method, Omada cofounders Sean Duffy and Adrian James decided to build the company’s program on the foundation of a proven clinical intervention: A landmark 2002 randomized controlled study had demonstrated the efficacy of DPPs, showing the behavior-change programs were more effective than a pharmaceutical intervention for prediabetics.
Design the service for the patient. Omada carefully designed its service to guide participants through an interactive journey that is integrated into their everyday lives. There were three design goals: engaging participants, making a good initial impression on them, and making it simple for them to participate in the program.
Emphasis on outcomes. Omada is dedicated to delivering results. The digital scale allows health coaches and data scientists to know instantly whether or not participants are weighing in on a daily basis. Omada encourages members to establish a routine for weighing in every day (e.g., weighing themselves first thing in the morning). This increases compliance, allows participants to see their progress and enables Omada staff to closely monitor any unexpected changes in a participant’s weight so that health coaches can intervene if a participant needs more guidance and support.
Article Source: Harvard Business Review
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