Hands-on nutrition demonstrations added to the Diabetes Prevention Program for people with prediabetes

One-arm Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study of a Community-informed Nutrition Intervention to Recruit, Engage, and Retain Patients Who Are Eligible to Participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program at Two Community Health Centers in Los Angeles

This project will test whether adding a 7-week series of healthy cooking and nutrition demos to the Diabetes Prevention Program helps adults at risk for prediabetes stay engaged and put healthy eating into daily life.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 99 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Los Angeles, California)
• Trial ID: NCT06897982 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-arm feasibility pilot will recruit 20 adults enrolled or eligible for the Diabetes Prevention Program from federally qualified health centers in Los Angeles and deliver a 7-week curriculum of hands-on nutrition and healthy cooking demonstrations aligned with DPP lessons. Participants will be enrolled in two cohorts of 10 and followed to measure feasibility, acceptability, and signals of improved engagement and retention in the DPP. The pilot will collect process data to inform a future pragmatic, fully powered randomized trial comparing DPP plus the nutrition intervention versus DPP alone. The intervention aims to help participants practice real-world meal preparation skills that support DPP goals such as achieving at least 5% weight loss and sustainable dietary changes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with BMI ≥25 (≥23 if Asian) who meet lab or provider criteria for prediabetes and are eligible for or enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes, those who do not meet prediabetes lab criteria, or individuals unable to attend in-person sessions at the clinic are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase DPP attendance and retention and give participants practical skills to improve diet quality and reach modest weight loss goals.

How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller programs combining cooking demonstrations with lifestyle education have shown positive signals for dietary change and engagement, though large randomized trials in safety-net settings remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18+ years old
* BMI of 25 or higher (23 or higher if Asian)
* Meet specific blood sugar test criteria indicating prediabetes, such as a fasting plasma glucose level between 110-125 mg/dL or an A1C level between 5.7-6.4%
* Not be diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
* Moderate to high risk of having prediabetes or a known diagnosis of prediabetes by their medical provider in the last 12 months.
* Eligible or enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 18 years of age
* BMI of less than 25 or higher (or under 23 if Asian)
* Does not meet specific blood sugar test criteria indicating prediabetes, such as a fasting plasma glucose level between 110-125 mg/dL or an A1C level between 5.7-6.4%
* Currently diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
* Has not been diagnosed as moderate to high risk of having prediabetes or having a known diagnosis of prediabetes by their medical provider in the last 12 months.

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, California, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Yelba Castellon-Lopez, MD — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Leslie Aguilar-Hernandez, BA

Conditions: Prediabetic State, PreDiabetes, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Nutrition, Healthy, Acceptability of Health Care, Obesity Prevention