DZD scientists at the University of Tübingen identified a phenotype among patients with prediabetes that is associated with nonresponse to lifestyle modification in the Tübingen Lifestyle Intervention Program (TULIP). These participants showed a lack of reversal of prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose) to normal glucose regulation (NGR) despite reduction of body weight. Characteristics of non-responders were low insulin secretion relative to insulin resistance or insulin-resistant nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (= high-risk phenotype). The odds ratio for reaching the status NGR was 4.54 (95% CI 2.08, 9.94) for participants having the low-risk phenotype.

In future, stratification of individuals with prediabetes at baseline into a high-risk and a low-risk phenotype may help to determine the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention to revert individuals to NGR. The next question is: Can a reduced response to a standard
lifestyle intervention in individuals with the identified high-risk phenotype be overcome by an intensified lifestyle intervention? The German Prediabetes Lifestyle Intervention Study (PLIS) has been started in eight centres throughout Germany to investigate this issue.

Original publication:
Stefan N, Staiger H, Wagner R, Machann J, Schick F, Häring HU, Fritsche A. A high-risk phenotype associates with reduced improvement in glycaemia during a lifestyle intervention in prediabetes. doi: 10.1007/s00125-015-3760-z. Diabetologia. September 24, 2015

Link to the publication:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00125-015-3760-z