For people with pre-diabetes, a lifestyle intervention called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has been shown to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 60 to 70%. Einstein was instrumental in developing the DPP and evaluating its long-term effectiveness. Men of color, however, have not reaped the benefits: they are far less likely to enroll in the 12-month DPP and to remain engaged if they do enroll.

To address this challenge, researchers at Einstein helped develop a version of DPP tailored specifically to Black and Latino men. Now, Earle Chambers, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Gonzalez, Ph.D., have been awarded a 5-year, $3.1 million National Institutes of Health grant to evaluate the effectiveness of that intervention, called Power-Up. Black and Latino men with prediabetes will be randomly assigned to enroll in a traditional, co-ed DPP program, or the new men-only Power-Up intervention. Over 12 months, the Einstein researchers will evaluate the participants’ engagement (enrollment and continued participation), as well as weight loss and improved levels of hemoglobin A1c (a blood test indicative of diabetes).

The study will take place within the Montefiore Health System and is a collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Chambers is associate professor of family and social medicine and of epidemiology & population health at Einstein. Dr. Gonzalez is professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health at Einstein. (1R01DK121896)