Effectiveness Research
Effectiveness research assesses whether interventions and strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor diabetes work. This research is designed to inform patients, providers, and decision makers which interventions or strategies are most effective for which populations or populations of patients, and under what circumstances.

Current Research Projects
- Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study (DPPOS)
The DPPOS study assesses the long-term effects of the intensive lifestyle intervention or metformin on diabetes-related complications and cancer. This a follow-up study of a multicenter, randomized control trial called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The DPP showed that people who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by losing a modest amount of weight through lifestyle changes (dietary changes and increased physical activity) and is also cost effective, providing the evidence base for CDC’s National DPP.
- The Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD)-Extension
The Look AHEAD-Extension study assesses the long-term effect of the intensive lifestyle intervention on life expectancy, health care costs, and the key dimensions of healthy aging (less frailty, reduced diabetic small blood vessel complications, and improved quality of life). - 30-Year Follow-up of Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study
The 30-year follow-up of the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study (DQDPS) examines the long-term effects of lifestyle changes on major cardiovascular (heart) disease, microvascular (small blood vessel) complications (e.g., eye and kidney diseases), and life expectancy.
Recent Publications
- Chao AM, Wadden TA, Clark JM, Hayden KM, Howard MJ, Johnson KC, Laferrère B, McCaffery JM, Wing RR, Yanovski SZ, Wagenknecht LE; Look AHEAD Research Group. Changes in the prevalence of symptoms of depression, loneliness, and insomnia in U.S. older adults with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Look AHEAD Study. Diabetes Care. 2022 Jan 1;45(1):74–82.
- Lee CG, Heckman-Stoddard B, Dabelea D, Gadde KM, Ehrmann D, Ford L, Prorok P, Boyko EJ, Pi-Sunyer X, Wallia A, Knowler WC, Crandall JP, Temprosa M; Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Effect of metformin and lifestyle interventions on mortality in the Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study. Diabetes Care. 2021 Dec;44(12):2775–2782.
- Gong Q, Zhang P, Wang J, Gregg EW, Cheng YJ, Li G, Bennett PH; Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study Group. Efficacy of lifestyle intervention in adults with impaired glucose tolerance with and without impaired fasting plasma glucose: a post hoc analysis of Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2021 Oct;23(10):2385–2394.