Effect of Personalized Exercise Interventions from the Fitterfly Diabetes Digital Therapeutics Program in Type 2 Diabetes: Real-world Effectiveness Evaluation (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Exercise intervention is effective in managing diabetes when delivered in a personalized manner. Personalization of exercise intervention following a systematic fitness assessment can lead to better health outcomes OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the effect of digitally delivered fitness assessments and exercise prescriptions on the fitness and health outcomes of people with diabetes. METHODS Participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (n=86) enrolled in the Fitterfly Diabetes program which included interventions in nutrition, fitness, and mental health delivered via a digital platform. The participants underwent a video call-based fitness assessment consisting of the 1-minute push-up test, wall sit test, 1-minute sit-up test, V-sit and reach test, and 6-minute walk test. Trained physiotherapists conducted the assessments, developed personalized exercise plans, and shared them with the participants via the app. Regular follow-ups were taken. The participants were re-assessed after 90 days. RESULTS There was a statistically significant improvement in the fitness-related outcome measures (p<0.05), the anthropometric measures (p<0.05), and HbA1c (p<0.05) post-intervention. Improvement in exercise duration was associated with better outcomes in fitness tests and anthropometric measures. CONCLUSIONS Personalized exercise intervention delivered digitally can help achieve better health outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes.