Hourly stair-climbing snacks to improve blood sugar and heart health in adults with prediabetes

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a single-site, randomized, counterbalanced crossover pilot study in adults with prediabetes. Participants complete three 6-hour visits: uninterrupted sitting, sitting with hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and sitting with hourly brief stair-climbing snacks. Researchers measure metabolic and vascular responses using continuous glucose monitoring, blood tests, heart rate and blood pressure, vascular ultrasound, and questionnaires to assess feasibility and acceptability. Each participant experiences all conditions in random order with at least a 7-day washout between visits, following overnight fasting and standardized meals. The goal is to see if brief stair-climbing breaks can mitigate risks associated with prolonged sitting and improve postprandial metabolic health.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 to 69 years, inclusive. Body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 40.0 kg/m², inclusive.

Objectively confirmed prediabetes based on at least one of the following:

* HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4%;
* fasting plasma glucose 100 to 125 mg/dL; or
* 2-hour plasma glucose 140 to 199 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.

Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent in English.

Able to safely perform repeated walking and vigorous stair-climbing activity based on medical history, resting vital signs, PAR-Q+ responses, investigator assessment, and medical clearance when required.

Able to safely undergo repeated venous blood collection and IV-catheter placement.

Able to safely consume the standardized study meals. Willing and able to complete all three experimental conditions and comply with fasting, dietary, physical-activity, medication, and pre-visit standardization instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

BMI below 25.0 kg/m² or above 40.0 kg/m². Diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Laboratory findings that do not confirm prediabetes or that suggest diabetes, including HbA1c ≥6.5%, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or 2-hour plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.

Cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological, or other medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the walking or stair-climbing interventions.

Resting vital signs, current symptoms, or other screening findings indicating that exercise participation would be unsafe.

Pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study period, or breastfeeding. Current use of medications that may substantially affect glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, body weight, study outcomes, or safe participation, including insulin, glucose-lowering medications, GLP-1 receptor agonists, pharmacologic weight-loss medications, systemic corticosteroids, or other medications judged by the investigator to interfere with study outcomes or safety.

Contraindications to vascular ultrasound, repeated blood collection, IV-catheter placement, or exercise participation.

Food allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions that prevent safe consumption of the standardized study meals.

Known allergy or severe skin sensitivity to adhesives used with continuous glucose monitors.

Bleeding disorder, current anticoagulant use, history of anemia, recent blood donation, recurrent fainting during blood collection, difficult venous access, or another condition judged to create unacceptable risk from repeated blood sampling or IV-catheter placement.

Inability to safely perform repeated walking or stair climbing. PAR-Q+ result requiring further medical evaluation when the participant does not obtain required written medical clearance.

Any other condition or finding that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator or qualified study investigator, would make participation unsafe or substantially interfere with completion of study procedures.

Where it's running

• Saint Louis University
  St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD, ACSM-CPT — St. Louis University
• Study coordinator: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD, ACSM-CPT
• Email: hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
• Phone: 314-977-8675

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.