Stand Up for Your Health: Using a Sit‑Stand Desk to Improve Blood Sugar and Vascular Health

Stand Up for Your Health: A Randomized Study

NIH-funded research Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11303265

This project tests whether regular use of a sit‑stand desk can improve blood sugar control and blood vessel health in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMedical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Milwaukee, United States)
Project IDNIH-11303265 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, you would be randomly assigned to use a sit‑stand workstation or continue your usual sitting routine. Researchers will track how much you sit and stand, measure blood sugar control (insulin resistance), blood vessel function, and blood fats, and collect other health data over several months. The team uses devices and clinic visits to compare changes between groups. The goal is to see whether reducing sitting time by standing more can improve markers linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) with sedentary jobs or lifestyles, often overweight or at risk for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and able to use a sit‑stand desk.

Not a fit: People with established diabetes requiring complex medical management, those already highly active or already using sit‑stand desks, or those unable to stand safely may not see benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower insulin resistance and reduce future risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems by decreasing daily sitting time.

How similar studies have performed: A small pilot showed a 23% improvement in insulin resistance after six months of sit‑stand desk use, but larger randomized trials are still limited.

Where this research is happening

Milwaukee, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.