DIMINI – Activation of health literacy in persons with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by coaching at general practitioners: evaluation concept and study design

T2DM is of increasing social and health economic significance and can be delayed or avoided with appropriate prevention. Important component to assure sustainable prevention is pronounced health literacy. Aim of DIMINI (Diabetes mellitus? – Ich nicht!) is to prevent T2DM and to strengthen health literacy of people at risk for T2DM. Risk persons are identified using the FINDRISK-test. Identified risk persons receive modular lifestyle intervention.

Study questions:

1. Will the DIMINI intervention be successful in reducing body weight in patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus?

2. Does the DIMINI intervention lead to an improvement in health literacy compared to persons receiving standard care?

Study design:

The study is a randomized controlled trial. A three-month intervention in the intervention group is followed by a one-year follow-up. Control group receives standard care for three months and one-year follow-up. Randomization is performed via web application. Sample represents people at increased risk of developing T2DM in two german federal states.

Intervention programme:

Intervention group receives DIMINI lifestyle kit for a three-months-period. DIMINI-kit contains health information, a list of food recommendations, additional information on calories, serving size and weight, nutrition and exercise diary. Choice is given for paper-based version or app-based DIMINI-kit.

Control intervention:

Treatment of control group is standard care according to German Federal Joint Committee.

Primary outcome measure:

Primary outcome is body weight reduction (web-based).

Secondary outcome measure:

Secondary outcomes are monitored with questionnaires: HLS-EU-Q16 (health literacy), FEV (eating behaviour), IPAQ (physical activity) and SF-12 (quality of life).